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Next in our Nomenclature Lessons... the Acids and Bases! To identify an acid from a base, here are some keywords for you to remember:

 

1. ACIDS are sour or acidic (duh), non-metals, corrosive to metals and always accompanied by Hydrogen.

 

2. BASES are bitter, metal, slippery and always have OH or Hydroxide.

 

In Naming Binary Acids:

 

1. The form is always H+ + Non-metal

 

2. Change the end of the non-metal to "-ic"

 

3. Add the word acid at the end.

 

Examples: HF= hydrofluoric acid

                  HCl= hydrochloric acid

                  H2S= hydrosulfuric acid

 

In Naming Ternary Acids:

 

1. The basic form is always H+ + Anion

 

2. Although Hydrogen is always before the Anion, "hydro-" shall not be noted because it is reserved for the binary acids.

 

Examples: HCN= cyanic acid

                  H2SO4= sulfuric acid

                  H3BO2= metaboric acid

                  H3BO3= borate --> boric acid

 

3. If the end of the anion is "-ide" or "-ate", change it to "-ic". While anions ending in "-ite" is changed to "-ous"

 

Examples: Acetate --> Acetic acid

                  Nitride --> Nitric acid 

                  Phosphite --> Phosphorous acid (not phosphous, it doesn't fit well)

                  Nitrite --> Nitrous acid

 

In Naming Bases:

 

1. This one is very easy! The basic form is Metal - OH

 

e.g. NaOH= Sodium hydroxide

       Al(OH)3= Aluminum hydroxide

       Be(OH)2= Beryllium hydroxide

 

Note: In all of this, if you have to change the name into the formula, NEVER FORGET THE NUMBER OF ATOMS! (the number at the bottom of each element)