What does the first word in the name of a binary ionic compound represent?

Question

Chemistry

Jethro

14 February, 11:14

What does the first word in the name of a binary ionic compound represent?

+2

Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Jonathan Lin · Answer 1

the negative ion

Sean Glover · Answer 2

The name of the cation

Explanation:

The name of a binary ionic compound is

name_of_cation name_of_anion

Thus, the first part of the name is the name of the cation.

For example, the first part of the name of Na⁺Cl⁻ is sodium.