Question

What are the six steps to naming multivalent metals?

Answer 1

Naming ionic compounds with multivalent metals involves determining the compound's formula, calculating the charge of the cation, and then naming the cation with its charge using Roman numerals followed by the anion with an -ide suffix.

Step-by-step explanation:

When naming ionic compounds with multivalent metals (transition metals that can form cations with more than one possible charge), the following steps should be taken:

1. Identify the ionic compound's formula.
2. Determine the charge of the anion (fixed negative charge).
3. Calculate the charge of the cation based on the overall neutrality of the compound.
4. Name the cation by the element's name and specify the charge of the metal cation using Roman numerals in parentheses.
5. Name the anion by changing the ending of the element to -ide.
6. Combine the names of the cation and anion, placing the cation's name first without any multipliers, for example, iron (III) chloride.

This systematic approach to the nomenclature ensures the proper communication of the chemical species involved, particularly when a metal has multiple oxidation states. For instance, FeCl₂ is named iron (II) chloride because iron is in the +2 oxidation state in this compound.