[CHM 111] CHM 111 - Naming Ionic Compounds

[Andrew J. Pounds]

On 05/30/2016 11:32 AM,  wrote:
>
> Dr. Pounds,
>
>
> As I was working though some of the worksheets you emailed us I became 
> confused about two of the compounds. On the worksheet it names Sc(OH)3 
> as scandium hydroxide, but I do not understand why it is not scandium 
> (III) hydroxide? Also it states that Cu(NO2)2 is copper (I) nitrite, 
> but I thought it would be copper (II) nitrite? Could you please 
> explain to me why these are the correct names and how to get the 
> correct name?
>
>
> Thank you,
>
>
>

As far as Sc(OH)_3 goes, it could be Scandium (III) hydroxide.  It just 
turns out that the other two oxidation states of scandium are so rare 
that they are never really considered -- so scandium hydroxide is 
normally acceptable.   I will try to pick metals that you know either 
have a well know, and generally fixed, oxidation state or metals that 
you know have multiple oxidation states.  You might want to take a look 
at figure 2.14 in your text.

Cu(NO_2 )_2 is copper (II) nitrite -- that is a misprint in the 
solutions.  Copper (I) nitrite would be CuNO_2


-- 
Andrew J. Pounds, Ph.D.  (pounds_aj at mercer.edu)
Professor of Chemistry and Computer Science
Mercer University,  Macon, GA 31207   (478) 301-5627
http://faculty.mercer.edu/pounds_aj

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