Question

How do you name a compound containing a polyatomic ion?

A. First name the anion, and then name the cation.
B. First name the cation, and then name the anion.
C. Name all of the elements that make up the compound, in order of decreasing electronegativity.
D. Name all of the elements that make up the compound, in order of increasing electronegativity.

Answer 1

To name a compound containing a polyatomic ion, you should first name the cation and then the anion, without including numerical prefixes unless the ion's name inherently includes them.

Step-by-step explanation:

When naming a compound containing a polyatomic ion, we follow the same rules as with other ionic compounds, which involve naming the cation first and then the anion. For instance, in the compound NH4NO3, we name the cation (ammonium) followed by the anion (nitrate), resulting in the compound name ammonium nitrate. We don't use numerical prefixes to indicate the number of polyatomic ions unless the ion itself includes a numerical prefix, such as in the case of ions like dichromate or triiodide.

It is important to remember that when dealing with cations with variable charges, you should include the appropriate roman numeral in the compound's name to indicate its charge. For example, iron(II) carbonate indicates that the iron cation has a +2 charge. Electronegativity does not play a direct role in the naming process of ionic compounds.