How to speak chemistrian

Question 1

How do you write cat ions and anions of an element? For example NaCl = Na+ Cl-

Answer 1

The cation just gets “ion” after the word and comes first, the anion gets the suffix “ide” and comes last. So
Na+ Sodium Ion, Cl- is Chrloride and together they are sodium chloride

Question 2

What is the chemical symbol for Iron

Answer 2

Fe

Question 3

How do you write an iron ion with multiple lost electrons, like Fe^2- Cl_2

Answer 3

Iron(II) Chrloride. The cation Iron(II) is always written with the (II) even if its in a compound. c.f. Sodium Chloride.

Question 4

What is the formula for Chlorate?

Answer 4

ClO_3^-

Question 5

What is the suffix used for the most common types of acids. E.g. HClO_3

Answer 5

-ic. The example above is Chloric acid and forms a baseline for other types of acids and their anions.

Question 6

If an anion ends in the suffix -ate, what does the acid formed from it (by adding protons) end in?

Answer 6

-ic. For example Chlorate ClO_3^-, binds with hydrogen ion, to form Chloric acid

Question 7

In what way do an anion and its corresponding acid differ from the common version?

Answer 7

They have more or fewer Oxygen atoms.

Question 8

What are the prefix/suffixes for Acids/Anions with 1 more oxygen atom than the most common (-IC/-ATE) baseline?

Answer 8

The same as the baseline Ic/Ate but with Per in front (from the greek meaning complete).

So Perchlorate anion combines with a proton to make Perchloric acid.

Question 9

What are the prefix/suffixes for Acids/Anions with 1 less oxygen atom than the most common (-IC/ATE) baseline?

Answer 9

ous (for the acid) and ite for the anion. ous meaning less than.

So Chlorite anion becomes Chlorous acid.

Question 10

What are the prefix/suffixes for Acids/Anions with 2 less oxygen atom than the most common (-IC/ATE) baseline?

Answer 10

Same as one less, but with hypo as a prefix.

So Hypochlorite anion becomes Hypochlorite acid.

Question 11

What are the prefix/suffixes for Acids/Anions with no hydrogen?

Answer 11

The anion is written with an -ide suffix and the acid with an -ic suffix and hydro- prefix.

So Chloride anion becomes hydrochloric acid.