Acid Nomenclature

     When working with inorganic acids, always start with the `ate' polyatomic ion.

     example:    CO₃   has a 2- charge so 2 hydrogens will be needed:                                                    

               +1        2-
                H₂CO₃       this would be named:  carbonic acid

    The six most common acids we use are given next.  They all end in `ic'

     HbrO₃   bromic acid                 H₃PO₄     phosphoric acid                                              

    HClO₃   chloric acid                H₂SO₄     sulfuric acid                                                    

    HNO₃    nitric acid                 H₂CO₃    carbonic acid                                                     

    Use these as starting points for the alternative acid (and their names)

Rules for Naming Acids/Writing their Formulas

 Rule 1:  all acids must contain hydrogen

 Rule 2:  acids with `ic' suffix represent natural `ate' polyatomic ions  

          HBrO₃  bromic acid

 Rule 3:  when all oxygen atoms are removed, add `hydro' prefix to name

         HBr  hydrobromic acid       HCl   hydrochloric acid

 Rule 4:  when an extra oxygen is added, add a `per' prefix to name

      HBrO₄   perbromic acid         HClO₄   perchloric acid                                                  

Rule 5:  when 1 oxygen is taken away (from `ate' ion number), change the `ic' suffix to `ous'

      HbrO₂    bromous acid          HClO₂    chlorous acid                                                 

Rule 6:  when 2 oxygens are taken away (from `ate' ion number), change the `ic' suffix to `ous' and add a `hypo' prefix

      HBrO    hypobromous acid      HClO    hypochlorous acid

Many more examples are available in class.  Please see Mr. Jones for these.

Page Last Updated: Friday March 02, 2007           Webmaster: Larry Jones                 Pickens County School District