How do you name chemicals?

Question

from a chemical formula to a written out name. from a chemical name to a written out formula... Test tomorrow

Answer 1

I'm assuming you're talking about ionic compounds like CaCl2 or KNO3....In order to name things from their formulas, you MUST know the common ions. I'm sure you have a list of a table of ions you are expected to know. Once you know all of those ions and their names, you can go from a formula to a name or the other direction quite easily. But you've got to learn those ions first.

In naming from a formula, you name the cation (usually a metal) first, and then name the anion. So, Na2SO4 is sodium sulfate.

Ca3(PO4)2 would be calcium phosphate.

You need to learn the parts before you can name the compounds.

Good luck at this point...