Acidic Compounds

Did you know that one factor that affects the colour of hydrangea blooms is the acidity of the soil?


© Wikimedia Commons
B6.6 Pink and blue hydrangea flowers
Acidic compounds are a special class of compounds with special properties and a unique naming process. Acid-forming compounds can be recognized by their chemical formula: H is written first in the formula, for example, HCl, H2SO4, H 3PO4.

The process of naming acids is to first identify the name as if the substance was an ionic compound. Then convert that name into an acid name using a pattern.

Solutions of Compounds Named
Classical Acid Name
hydrogen ___ide hydro____ic acid
hydrogen ___ate    ____ic acid
hydrogen ___ite    ____ous acid

Note: Acids that contain phosphorus have “or” added in for the acid name, and acids that contain sulfur have “ur” added in for the acid name.

Formula Solutions of Compounds Named
Classical Acid Name
HCl hydrogen chloride hydrochloric acid
H3PO4 hydrogen phosphate    phosphoric acid
H2SO3 hydrogen sulfite    sulfurous acid

Examples

Work through the following examples to gain a better understanding of acid nomenclature. Each example has a video to go with it. To play the video, click on the play icon next to the example.

Identify the type of compound.

Hydrogen written first and bonded to a non-metal indicates it is an acid-forming compound.
Provide a name for the compound based on previously learned rules.

hydrogen fluoride
Using the rules for naming acids, determine the classical acid name.

hydrofluoric acid

Watch this video to see a teacher work through this example. https://adlc.wistia.com/medias/kujlvc0jq7
 

Identify the type of compound.

Hydrogen written first and bonded to a polyatomic indicates it is an acid-forming compound.
Provide a name for the compound based on previously learned rules.

hydrogen perchlorate
Using the rules for naming acids, determine the classical acid name.

perchloric acid

Watch this video to see a teacher work through this example. https://adlc.wistia.com/medias/7j29kacbdi
 

Identify the type of compound.

Hydrogen written first and bonded to a polyatomic indicates it is an acid-forming compound.
Provide a name for the compound based on previously learned rules.

hydrogen chlorite
Using the rules for naming acids, determine the classical acid name.

chlorous acid

Watch this video to see a teacher work through this example. https://adlc.wistia.com/medias/uxeo1bv4wa
 


The acids you have studied thus far are all inorganic acids; however, there are also organic acids.  The formulas of organic acids can be recognized by the ending “–COOH.”  Examples:
ethanoic acid, also called acetic acid, and as a dilute solution called vinegar

CH3COOH

methanoic acid, also known as formic acid—the substance found in bee strings and ants

HCOOH


To determine the formula of an acid, use the pattern to convert the acid name into an ionic name and write a proper formula taking charges on the ions into consideration.

Examples

Work through these examples to gain a deeper understanding of writing formulas for acids. Each example has a video to go with it. To play the video, click on the play icon next to the example.

Using the rules for naming acids, determine the compound name.

nitrous acid = hydrogen nitrite
Write the ion symbols.

«math»«msup»«mi mathvariant=¨normal¨»H«/mi»«mo»+«/mo»«/msup»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«msubsup»«mi»NO«/mi»«mn»2«/mn»«mo»-«/mo»«/msubsup»«/math»
Determine the lowest common multiple of the two ions.

The lowest common multiple between 1 and 1 is 1.
Determine the factor to multiple each ion by.

No subscripts need to be added.
Write the formula with subscripts.


Watch this video to see a teacher work through this example. https://adlc.wistia.com/medias/crfhnia1mo
 


Using the rules for naming acids, determine the compound name.

carbonic acid = hydrogen carbonate
Write the ion symbols.


«math»«msup»«mi mathvariant=¨normal¨»H«/mi»«mo»+«/mo»«/msup»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«msubsup»«mi»CO«/mi»«mn»3«/mn»«mrow»«mn»2«/mn»«mo»-«/mo»«/mrow»«/msubsup»«/math»


 
Determine the lowest common multiple of the two ions.

The lowest common multiple between 1 and 2 is 2.
Determine the factor to multiple each ion by.

«math»«mtable columnspacing=¨0px¨ columnalign=¨right center left¨»«mtr»«mtd»«msup»«mi mathvariant=¨normal¨»H«/mi»«mo»+«/mo»«/msup»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«mo»§#215;«/mo»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«mn»2«/mn»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«/mtd»«mtd»«mo»=«/mo»«/mtd»«mtd»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«mn»2«/mn»«mo»+«/mo»«/mtd»«/mtr»«mtr»«mtd»«msubsup»«mi»CO«/mi»«mn»3«/mn»«mrow»«mn»2«/mn»«mo»-«/mo»«/mrow»«/msubsup»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«mo»§#215;«/mo»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«mn»1«/mn»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«/mtd»«mtd»«mo»=«/mo»«/mtd»«mtd»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«mn»2«/mn»«mo»§#8211;«/mo»«/mtd»«/mtr»«/mtable»«/math»
This will create a neutral compound.
The ratio of «math»«/math»«math»«msup»«mi mathvariant=¨normal¨»H«/mi»«mo»+«/mo»«/msup»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«mi»to«/mi»«mo»§#160;«/mo»«msubsup»«mi»CO«/mi»«mn»3«/mn»«mrow»«mn»2«/mn»«mo»-«/mo»«/mrow»«/msubsup»«/math» is 2:1.
Write the formula with subscripts.


Watch this video to see a teacher work through this example.  https://adlc.wistia.com/medias/0008hosa3e
 


Using the rules for naming acids, determine the compound name.

hydroiodic acid = hydrogen iodide
Write the ion symbols.

Determine the lowest common multiple of the two ions.

The lowest common multiple between 1 and 1 is 1.
Determine the factor to multiple each ion by.

No subscripts are needed.
Write the formula with subscripts.


Watch this video to see a teacher work through this example.  https://adlc.wistia.com/medias/1bbj6hmocw
 



  Read This

Please read pages 64 and 65 in your Science 10 textbook. Make sure you take notes on your readings to study from later. You should focus on writing formulas and naming acidic compounds. Remember, if you have any questions or you do not understand something, ask your teacher!

  Practice Questions

Complete the following practice questions to check your understanding of the concept you just learned. Make sure you write complete answers to the practice questions in your notes. After you have checked your answers, make corrections to your responses (where necessary) to study from.

  1. Fill in the missing information in this chart.

    Acid-Forming Compound Name of Acid-Forming Compound
    Classical Acid Name
    HBr
    HClO
    nitric acid
    hydrosulfuric acid

    Acid-Forming Compound Name of Acid-Forming Compound
    Classical Acid Name
    HBr hydrogen bromide
    hydrobromic acid
    HClO hydrogen hypochlorite hypochlorous acid
    HNO3 hydrogen nitrate
    nitric acid
    H2S hydrogen sulfide hydrosulfuric acid