Prefixes and Suffixes…

Numeric prefixes (mono, di, tri, tetra, penta, hexa, hepta, octa, nona, deca)

  • These are ONLY used for the following:
    • -Metal-containing acids and acid ions: the prefix ONLY goes on the hydrogen (mono is dropped)
      • Examples:
        • H2AsO4 = dihydrogen arsenate ion
        • HAsO42- = hydrogen arsenate ion
        • NaH2PO4 = sodium dihydrogen phosphate
        • NaHSeO3 = sodium hydrogen selenite
      • Other Examples:
        • H2AsO4, H2PO4, HAsO42-, HCO3, HPO42-, HSeO3, HSeO4, HSO3, HSO4, HTeO3, HTeO4, Na2HAsO4, Na2HPO4, NaH2AsO4, NaH2PO4, NaHCO3, NaHSeO3, NaHSeO4, NaHSO3, NaHSO4, NaHTeO3, NaHTeO4, CaHAsO4, CaHPO4
      • Related Topics: Acids – Neutral w/ Metal – Oxygen, Acids – Ions – Oxygen
      • Worksheet: Study Aid G, I
    • -Nonmetal/nonmetal binary compounds that are NOT acids: the prefix goes on both first and second element (mono on the first element is dropped).
      • Examples:
        • CBr4 = carbon tetrabromide
        • TeO3 = tellurium trioxide
        • S2F6 = disulfur hexafluoride
      • Other Examples:
        • CBr4, CCl4, Cl2O7, ClO2, CO, CO2, ICl, N2O, N2O4, N2O5, P2O3, P2S5, P4O10, PBr5, PCl3, S2F6, SeO2, SF6, SiS2, SO2, SO3, TeO3
      • Related Topics: NonAcids – Binary Cmpds – Nonmetal + Nonmetal
      • Worksheet: Study Aid D