Starts with Metal

1) Write the name of the 1st element

2) Write the name of the 2nd element, change the

ending to -ide

2) Write the name of the polyatomic ion

Do reverse criss-cross to determine charge, use a Roman numeral after the

cation

Starts with Non-Metal

1st element- Change subscript into prefix then write element

2nd element- change subscript into prefix,

write element, change ending to -

ide

Starts with H

yes

Compound is IONIC Compound is COVALENT

If 1st element is a transition metal

if anion is an ELEMENT

if anion is a POLYATOMIC ION

yes

Compound is an ACIDIs OXYGEN present?

yes

noHydro + root + -ic

acid

If polyatomic ion ends in -ite:

Root + -ous Acid

If polyatomic ion ends in -ate:

Root + -ic Acid

Don’t use Don’t use mono on mono on

1st element1st element

NO NO POLYATOMICS POLYATOMICS IN COVALENT IN COVALENT FORMULASFORMULAS

yesyes

Formula to NameXY Xray Yellow

Pre-fixesmono-1di-2tri-3tetra-4penta-5

hexa-6hepta-7octa-8nona-9deca-10

Does name have a prefix or start with a non-metal?

Write elementsChange prefixes into

subscripts

DO NOT REDUCEDO NOT CRISS-CROSS

Is compound an Acid?

Does name start with hydro-?

Write symbol and charge for H and element

Do Criss-cross

Is 1st element a metal?

yes

Compound is COVALENT Compound is an ACID

yes

Compound is IONIC

yes

If root ends in -ous:use -ite polyatomic ion

If root ends in -ic:use -ate polyatomic ion

yes no

Name to FormulaXray Yellow XY

Pre-fixesmono-1di-2tri-3tetra-4penta-5

yes

Write symbol and charge for H and polyatomic ion

Do Criss-cross

Is there a Roman numeral?

Roman numeral tells you the charge

Write symbol and charge for cation and

anion

Do criss-cross

-ide = element-ide = element

-ite-ate= polyatomic ion

hexa-6hepta-7octa-8nona-9deca-10