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Naming Acids and Bases

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Bases

There are no special rules for naming bases. Just following the ionic rules. You need to know that if the polyatomic hydroxide (OH) is in the compound then it is a base. For the formulas, use the criss-cross method.

NaOH

Cesium hydroxide

KOH

Calcium hydroxide

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Acids

  • A compound in which one or more H+ ions are bonded to a negative ion.

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Common Acids:

HF 🡪 H+ + F-

H2S 🡪 2H+ + S2-

HNO3 🡪 H+ + NO3-

H2SO4 🡪 2H+ + SO42-

 

  • The name of an acid is based on the name of the negative ion that is part of that acid.

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Rules for Naming Acids:

Formula of Acid

Acid Name

H + non-metal (-ide)

(ONLY 2 ELEMENTS)

Hydro____ic acid

H + poly ion (-ate)

_____ic acid

H + poly ion (-ite)

_____ous acid

HCl

H2CrO4

HF

HClO2

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Writing Formulas for Acids

Acids have the name acid in it. Figure out what type of acid it is, then add the number of hydrogens you need to balance it. Use the criss-cross method to write the formula.

Prefix hydro – hydrogen + ONE element

*Write the element symbol and add an “H” in the front.

Suffix ic or ous – hydrogen + polyatomic

*Identify the base (ic 🡪 ate; ous 🡪 ite)

*Write the polyatomic and add an “H” in the front.

III. Criss cross.

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Acetic acid

Nitrous acid

Hydrofluoric acid

Hydrochloric acid