Interactive Chemistry Worksheets for Students |
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The chemical suffix or end part of a chemical name needs careful attention.
There is a big difference between the "ide", "ate" and "ite" suffixes.
1. As a general rule an "ide" suffix indicates an element. eg. sulfide S2-, nitride N3- and phosphide P3-
The exceptions are hydroxide OH- and cyanide CN-
2. "ates" and "ites" always contain oxygen. eg. nitrate NO3- and nitrite NO2-
3. "ates" always have a higher number of oxygen atoms the corresponding "ites". eg. sulfate SO42- and sulfite SO32-
Chemical Formula Table
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
E
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.
|
Na2S sodium sulfide |
K2S potassium sulfide |
MgS magnesium sulfide |
CaS calcium sulfide |
Al2S3 aluminum sulfide |
2.
|
NaSO4 sodium sulfate |
K2SO4 potassium sulfate |
MgSO4 magnesium sulfate |
CaSO4 calcium sulfate |
Al2SO4 aluminum sulfate |
3.
|
NaSO3 sodium sulfite |
KSO3 potassium sulfite |
MgSO3 magnesium sulfite |
CaSO3 calcium sulfite |
AlSO3 aluminium sulfite |
4.
|
Na3N sodium nitride |
K3N potassium nitride |
Mg3N2 magnesium nitride |
Ca3N2 calcium nitride |
AlN aluminum nitride |
5.
|
NaNO3 sodium nitrate |
KNO3 potassium nitrate |
Mg(NO3)2 magnesium nitrate |
Ca(NO3)2 calcium nitrate |
Al(NO3)3 aluminum nitrate |
6.
|
NaNO2 sodium nitrite |
KNO2 potassium nitrite |
Mg(NO2)2 magnesium nitrite |
Ca(NO2)2 calcium nitrite |
Al(NO2)3 aluminium nitrite |
7.
|
Na3P sodium phosphide |
K3P potassium phosphide |
Mg3P2 magnesium phosphide |
Ca3P2 calcium phosphide |
AlP aluminum phosphide |
8.
|
Na3PO4 sodium phosphate |
K3PO4 potassium phosphate |
Mg3(PO4)2 magnesium phosphate |
Ca3(PO4)2 calcium phosphate |
AlPO4 aluminum phosphate |