Note:
- Many compounds contain a metal and non-metal. In the name and the formula, the metal part usually comes first, followed by the non-metal part. For example, sodium chloride, NeCl, begins with the metal sodium, Na.
- The names of many compounds with only two elements often end in ‘-ide’. For example, sodium chloride. Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, which has three elements (sodium, hydrogen and oxygen) is an exception.
- If the names of compounds end in ‘-ate’, they contain oxygen. For example, calcium carbonate, CaCO3.
- Acids are compounds. Their names usually end in ‘-ic acid’.
- Some compounds have common names that tell us little or nothing about the element present. For example, sucrose.
- The metals in some compounds have a Roman numeral after their names, for example, copper (II) sulfate.