Chemistry: Acids and Nomenclature

Acids

• Acids are chemical compounds containing hydrogen as its cation and one or more nonmetals as its anion.
• Must be dissolved in water to be considered an acid.
• Aqueous (aq) indicates the compound is dissolved in water, with water as the solvent.

Binary Acids

• Binary acids contain two atoms.
• Hydrogen is the cation, and a non-metal is the anion.
• Nomenclature: "Hydro" + root of the non-metal + "ic acid"
• Examples:
  • Hydrogen Chloride (HCl): Not an acid; it's not dissolved in water.
  • Hydrochloric Acid (HCl(aq)): Contains hydrogen and chlorine dissolved in water. This is an acid.
  • Hydrosulfuric Acid (H2S(aq)): Contains hydrogen and sulfur dissolved in water. This is an acid.

Oxyacids

• Oxyacids contain hydrogen as a cation and a non-metal anion (often a polyatomic ion).
• Must be dissolved in water to be classified as an acid.
• Have an oxygen atom in the anion (polyatomic ion).
• Nomenclature: Change the polyatomic ion ending in "ate" to "ic acid."
• Examples:
  • Hydrogen Phosphate (H3PO4): Not an acid; it's not dissolved in water.
  • Phosphoric Acid (H3PO4(aq)): Contains hydrogen, phosphorus, and oxygen dissolved in water. This is an acid.
• Memory Aid: "Hydro no O" - If the name contains "hydro", then the compound does not contain oxygen.
• Example: Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4(aq)): Contains hydrogen, and sulfur (polyatomic ion with oxygen), dissolved in water. This is an acid.
• Memory Aid: "I ate something icky" - If the polyatomic ion ends in "ate", then change the ending to "ic acid".

Common Mistakes with Acids

• Hydro - Not all acids contain hydro.
• Dissolved in Water - All acids must be dissolved in water to be considered acids.
• Common Chemical Compounds - Just because a compound contains the same elements as an acid doesn't mean it's an acid.
• Presence of Oxygen - Oxyacids contain oxygen and non-metal cations which can be confusing, pay attention to the nomenclature of both types of acids to avoid mistakes. Ensure the compound is dissolved in water for acid classification.

This quiz explores the fundamentals of acids, including binary acids and oxyacids. Understand the definitions, naming conventions, and examples of these chemical compounds. Enhance your chemistry knowledge about how acids are formed and identified in aqueous solutions.