Question

Can someone explain to me how you name ionic compounds?

Answer 1

I'm mainly confused about the numbers and the roman numerals.

Answer 2

there are a few rules. look in your text for exceptions and such. basically you first name the cation and then the anion or PAI (polyatomic ion)

Answer 3

Here are the rules:
1. Roman numerals are always required for transition metals (like Copper (II) sulphate), as they have d-orbitals. The roman numerals represent the oxidation number of the transition metal. In the example, copper's oxidation number is +2. A transition metal can have multiple oxidation numbers (like Iron (II) oxide and iron (III) oxide).

2. For molecules of two non-metals (like carbon dioxide), you always need to add a numeric prefix, except for the first species (that is, you won't say monocarbon dioxide). In carbon dioxide, \[CO_2\], we know that there is only one atom of carbon bonded with two atoms of oxygen. So we add "di" in front of oxide to indicate that there are two oxygen atoms in the molecule.

Mono = 1
Di = 2
Tri = 3
Tetra = 4 (for oxides, we don't say tetraoxide, but tetroxide)
Penta = 5
etc.