Chemistry Acids and Naming Conventions

Acids

• Acids are chemical compounds containing hydrogen as a cation and one or more nonmetals as an anion.
• Acids must be dissolved in water to be classified as acids, denoted by "(aq)" after the chemical formula.
• Acids are categorized as binary acids or oxyacids.
• "Aq" stands for aqueous, meaning dissolved in water.
• All acids contain hydrogen as its cation.
• Acids are compounds that contain hydrogen as a cation (positively charged ion) and one or more nonmetals in the anion (negatively charged ion).

Binary Acids

• Binary acids contain hydrogen and one other non-metal atom, dissolved in water.
• Binary acid nomenclature always starts with "hydro", followed by the root of the nonmetal, and ends with "ic acid".
• Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is a compound before dissolving in water.
• Hydrochloric acid (HCl(aq)) is hydrogen chloride dissolved in water; a common stomach acid.
• Hydrosulfuric acid (H₂S(aq)) is formed when hydrogen sulfide is dissolved in water.
• Binary acids contain two elements: hydrogen and a non-metal.
• Hydrogen fluoride (HF) is the compound without water.
• Hydrofluoric acid (HF(aq)) is the compound dissolved in water, making it an acid.
• Hydrogen selenide (H₂Se) is the compound without water.
• Hydroselenic acid (H₂Se(aq)) is the compound dissolved in water, making it an acid.
• Hydrogen nitride (H₃N) is the compound without water.
• Hydronitric acid (H₃N(aq)) is the compound dissolved in water, making it an acid.

Oxyacids

• Oxyacids contain hydrogen, oxygen, and at least one non-metal atom.
• Oxyacids are formed when a polyatomic ion containing oxygen (an oxyanion) is bonded to hydrogen and dissolved in water.
• Oxyacids are named according to the polyatomic ion's ending.
  • If the polyatomic ion ends in "-ate", the acid name ends in "ic acid".
  • If the polyatomic ion ends in "-ite", the acid name ends in "ous acid".
• Phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄(aq)) contains hydrogen, phosphorus, and oxygen dissolved in water.
• Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄(aq)) contains hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen dissolved in water.
• Carbonic acid (H₂CO₃(aq)) contains hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen dissolved in water.
• Oxyacids contain oxygen, hydrogen, and one or more nonmetals.

Naming Conventions

• "Hydro" prefix in an acid name indicates the absence of oxygen.
• Binary acids: "hydro" + non-metal root + "ic acid"
• Oxyacids: Non-metal root + "ic acid" or "ous acid"
  • "-ate" polyatomic ion = "ic acid"
  • "-ite" polyatomic ion = "ous acid"

Differences Between Binary Acids and Oxyacids

• Binary acids do not contain oxygen while oxyacids do.
• Binary acid names start with "hydro", oxyacid names do not.
• Binary acids always end in "ic acid", oxyacids end in "ic acid" or "ous acid".
• Hydrophosphoric acid (H₃P(aq)) contains only hydrogen and phosphorus dissolved in water.

Important Notes

• Not all compounds containing hydrogen are acids. Water (H₂O) is not an acid.
• A compound must contain hydrogen as a cation and be dissolved in water to be classified as an acid.
• "(aq)" in a chemical formula indicates the compound is aqueous (dissolved in water).
• Memory aids:
  • "Hydro no O" - If the acid name has "hydro", it means no oxygen is present.
  • "I ate something icky for lunch" - If the polyatomic ion ends in "-ate", change it to "-ic acid" when determining the acid name.
• You can determine the formula of an acid by knowing the name of its polyatomic ion.
• Use the naming convention to determine the formula or name of an acid.
• If an acid does not contain oxygen, it is a binary acid. If it does contain oxygen, it is most likely an oxyacid. If there is a hydro prefix, the acid is an oxyacid.

This quiz covers the essential concepts of acids, including binary acids and oxyacids, as well as their naming conventions. Test your understanding of how to differentiate between various types of acids and their nomenclature rules. Perfect for chemistry students who want to reinforce their knowledge on the topic.