A binary compound is a compound that contains two different elements, such as NaCl (salt).

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Metals with variable valences

“Stock”

Metal + Valence of metal (As Roman numerals) + Nonmetal + “-ide”

“Latin Method” Latin name of metal + “-ic” (For higher valence) / “-ous” (For lower valence) + Nonmetal + “-ide” werwere

Binary Acids

“Hydro-” + Nonmetal + “-ic” + “acid”

There are only 10 existing non-metals that can be involved in binary acids when combined with hydrogen, namely Chlorine, Fluorine, Bromine, Iodine and Sulfur.

Binary Covalent Compounds

Nonmetal + Nonmetal + "-ide"

Add the appropriate Latin prefix to each element name to denote the number of atoms of each element present in a molecule of the compound. This method is generally not used with ionic compounds(see below), only with covalent compounds. For example, K₂O is usually not called dipotassium monoxide, it is simply potassium oxide. P₄O₆, however, would be tetraphosphorus hexoxide. Some elements beginning with vowels (Oxygen, for example) replace the vowel ending of its prefix; mono- + Oxide = Monoxide, O₄ = Tetroxide, O₅ = Pentoxide, and so on.

Binary Ionic Compounds

Cation (+ charge) + Anion (- charge) + "ide" (if the anion is only 1 atom-ex.: MgS=Magnesium Sulfide)

If the anion is more than one atom of the same substance, either "ite" or "ate" is added at the end instead of "ide". "ite" is used when the anion is <3, "ate" if the anion is 3 or higher. Ex.: CaCl₂re common however... one being Iron(III) Oxide=Fe₂O₃.