Naming Acids
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.
All acids beginning with the prefix „hydro“ are otherwise known as binary acids.
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.
