Nomenclam... WHAT?!!? Calling Chemists...

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Sep 15, 2008

Do you have a secret you want to share?!!?
Naming compounds is driving me!!!!!
I've looked at a good bit of websites but I'm not finding anything that is really helping me get a grip on this.

The organic chemists have resisted the efforts of IUPAC to standardize chemical names. If you're having issues with hydrocarbons, blame them. If it's a matter of naming inorganic compounds, memorize your ions for those compounds and memorize the appropriate prefixes and suffixes for the covalently-bound molecules.

If you're still having issues with a specific molecule, I can try giving it a crack - my BS is in Molecular and Cell Bio, I understand a little bit of it. Send me a PM.

CuriousMe · Sep 16, 2008

Do you have a secret you want to share?!!?
Naming compounds is driving me!!!!!
I've looked at a good bit of websites but I'm not finding anything that is really helping me get a grip on this.

If you're working on general chemistry nomenclature (not organic-carbon based chem) then really....it's just straight memorization of the pieces (ie polyatomic ions, and the prefixes and suffixes) I highly recommend flash cards. I would also get into a study area and just write them over and over on a white board as I said them. For some reason seeing them, writing big like that and saying them at the same time helped me.

Best of luck!!!!!

Peace,

CuriousMe

AtomicWoman · Sep 16, 2008

This guy's website is wonderful; I owe him a debt. Here's his tutorial on nomenclature:

http://chemistry.alanearhart.org/Tutorials/Nomen/index.html

At the bottom of the page are quizzes with tons of questions.

The only way to get good at nomenclature is to do a gazillion of them, and to be able to quickly recognize what's an ionic compound (metal plus nonmetal) and a molecular compound (2 nonmetals). You will need to memorize a small number of polyatomic ions. Flashcards will help you enormously there.

Good luck!