Naming of Acids

Sulfuric Acid - H2SO4

Naming acids and bases is done systematically depending on what atoms or ions are present in the acid or base.  Many compounds in chemistry tend to have a first name and a last name.  Acids, however, always have the same last name.  The difficulty in naming acids arises when there are so many similar anions available. Hydrogen ions can bond with sulfide, sulfite, or sulfate, and in all three cases, an acid will result. These are three different acids. Ion names and formulas are essential for becoming proficient at naming and writing formulas for acids. In this topic, you will learn the how to name acids and bases.

Essential Questions

• What are the rules for naming acids and bases?
• How do the hydrogen ions combine with anions in acids and cations in bases?