Naming Ionic Compounds Containing Polyatomic Ions

So far, we've looked at how to name binary ionic compounds and how to name binary covalent compounds. If you're not comfortable with either of these, click on their names to review. In this packet, we'll look at a special case of ionic compounds -- a case in which one of the ions is a polyatomic ion. Or in other words, where one of the ions is made up of multiple atoms. The general rules are the same, but you'll need to learn the common names, formulas and charges on the most frequently used polyatomic ions.

Make flashcards! There aren't many things in chemistry that you just have to memorize, but there are a few -- and this is one of them. Make flashcards with the formula (including the charge!) on one side and the name on the other, and review until you have them down.