Nomenclature of Oxyacids

We've learned how to name certain ionic and covalent compounds, but let's get a little more specific and learn how to name a class of compounds called oxyacids.

We already know that binary acids are ones that contain hydrogen and one other element, like hydrochloric acid.

But there are also acids that contain hydrogen, oxygen, and at least one other element, and we call these oxyacids.

Beyond this elemental breakdown, in order to qualify as an oxyacid, the atoms also must be bonded in such a way so as to produce acidic properties.

Usually, this involves one or more hydrogen atoms combined with an oxygen-containing polyatomic anion.

So let's look at the various polyatomic ions we can use to build oxyacids.

First, let's look at the nitrate ion.

This is NO3 minus.

We can add a hydrogen ion, or proton, to the nitrate to get HNO3, which is an oxyacid, as we can see the hydrogen, the oxygen, and the other element, in this case, nitrogen.

The nitrate ion is very stable, so its conjugate acid is indeed rather acidic, since the strength of an acid is proportional to the stability of its conjugate base.

We've learned how to name certain ionic and covalent compounds, but let's get a little more specific and learn how to name a class of compounds called oxyacids.

We already know that binary acids are ones that contain hydrogen and one other element, like hydrochloric acid.

But there are also acids that contain hydrogen, oxygen, and at least one other element, and we call these oxyacids.

Beyond this elemental breakdown, in order to qualify as an oxyacid, the atoms also must be bonded in such a way so as to produce acidic properties.

Usually, this involves one or more hydrogen atoms combined with an oxygen-containing polyatomic anion.

So let's look at the various polyatomic ions we can use to build oxyacids.

First, let's look at the nitrate ion.

This is NO3 minus.

We can add a hydrogen ion, or proton, to the nitrate to get HNO3, which is an oxyacid, as we can see the hydrogen, the oxygen, and the other element, in this case, nitrogen.

The nitrate ion is very stable, so its conjugate acid is indeed rather acidic, since the strength of an acid is proportional to the stability of its conjugate base.