Acids-For
simplicity, the acids that we will be concerned with
naming are really just a special class of ionic
compounds where the cation is always H+. So
if the formula has hydrogen written first, then this
usually indicates that the hydrogen is an H+
cation and that the compound is an acid. When dissolved
in water, acids produce H+ ions (also called
protons, since removing the single electron from a
neutral hydrogen atom leaves behind one proton).
Rules
for Naming Acids that Do
Not Contain Oxygen
in the Anion:
Since
all these acids have the same cation, H+,
we don't need to name the cation.
The
acid name comes from the root name of the anion
name.
The
prefix hydro-
and the suffix -ic
are
then added to the root name of the anion.
HCl,
which contains the anion chloride, is called hydrochloric
acid.
HCN,
which contains the anion cyanide, is called hydrocyanic
acid.
Rules
for Naming Oxyacids (anion contains the element oxygen):
Since
all these acids have the same cation, H+,
we don't need to name the cation.
The
acid name comes from the root name of the oxyanion
name or the central element of the oxyanion.
Suffixes
are used based on the ending of the original name of
the oxyanion. If the name of the polyatomic anion
ended with -ate,
change it to -ic
for the acid and if it ended with -ite,
change it to -ous
in the acid.
HNO3,
which contains the polyatomic ion nitrate,
is called nitric
acid.
HNO2,
which contains the polyatomic ion nitrite,
is called nitrous
acid.
