naming acids and bases worksheet

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04-02-2025

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This worksheet provides a comprehensive guide to naming acids and bases, a crucial topic in chemistry. Understanding the nomenclature of acids and bases is essential for accurate communication and understanding of chemical reactions. This guide will cover the systematic naming conventions for both inorganic and some common organic acids and bases.

Understanding Acid and Base Nomenclature

Before we delve into the naming conventions, let's clarify the definitions:

• Acids: Substances that donate protons (H⁺ ions) when dissolved in water. They typically have a sour taste and react with bases to form salts and water.
• Bases: Substances that accept protons (H⁺ ions) or donate hydroxide ions (OH⁻ ions) when dissolved in water. They typically have a bitter taste and feel slippery.

Naming Acids

The naming of acids depends on the anion (negatively charged ion) they contain. Here's a breakdown:

1. Binary Acids (containing only hydrogen and one other nonmetal)

Binary acids are named using the prefix hydro- followed by the root name of the nonmetal and the suffix -ic acid.

Example:

• HCl: hydrochloric acid
• HBr: hydrobromic acid
• HI: hydroiodic acid
• H₂S: hydrosulfuric acid

2. Oxyacids (containing hydrogen, oxygen, and another nonmetal)

Oxyacids are named based on the oxyanion (anion containing oxygen) they contain. The naming process depends on the oxyanion's suffix:

• If the oxyanion ends in -ate, the acid name ends in -ic acid.

  Example: Nitrate (NO₃⁻) → Nitric acid (HNO₃) Example: Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) → Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) Example: Phosphate (PO₄³⁻) → Phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄)

• If the oxyanion ends in -ite, the acid name ends in -ous acid.

  Example: Nitrite (NO₂⁻) → Nitrous acid (HNO₂) Example: Sulfite (SO₃²⁻) → Sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃) Example: Phosphite (PO₃³⁻) → Phosphorous acid (H₃PO₃)

Naming Bases

Naming bases is generally simpler than naming acids. Many common bases are metal hydroxides. Their names are formed by combining the name of the metal cation with the term "hydroxide."

Examples:

• NaOH: Sodium hydroxide
• KOH: Potassium hydroxide
• Ca(OH)₂: Calcium hydroxide
• Mg(OH)₂: Magnesium hydroxide
• Al(OH)₃: Aluminum hydroxide

Practice Problems

Here are some practice problems to test your understanding:

1. Name the following acids: HF, H₂Se, H₃PO₄, HNO₂, HClO₄
2. Name the following bases: LiOH, Sr(OH)₂, Fe(OH)₃
3. Write the chemical formulas for the following: perchloric acid, sulfurous acid, barium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide.

Answers (Hidden for Self-Assessment)

This worksheet provides a foundational understanding of naming acids and bases. Remember to consult your textbook or other reliable resources for further clarification and practice. Mastering this skill is crucial for success in chemistry.