Chapter 3 Section 3.5 Guideline #3 Tasks #7 & #8 Study Guide

Ternary Ionic Compounds

1. Inorganic Compounds are subdivided into three Categories:
a. Ionic* : Metallic (Cations) + Nonmetallic (anions) (ion smallest unit)
b. Molecular: Nonmetal-Nonmetal (molecule smallest unit)
c. Acids (aq): Hydrogen ions (Hydronium ions) + Nonmetallic ions (Cations)
(in aqueous solution)

*(also called Salts, Minerals, and Body Electrolytes)

2. Ternary ionic means that there are three or more elements (ternary)
in the formula and the compound is made up of two ions (ionic):

a. at least one of the ions (either the CATION or ANION or both)
is/are polyatomic ion(s) (See Polyatomic ion study guide)

b. Positive Charged Metallic ion (CATION): Metallic Cation is a
positively charged metallic atom as explained in Guideline 1 or

c. Positive Charged Polyatomic CATION is a group of two or more
nonmetal atoms covalently bonded but the group has an overall
charge positive charge.
Ammonium NH₄¹⁺ and Hydronium H₃O¹⁺
are the two Polyatomic Cations mostly used from Polyatomic ion
list.

d. Negative Charged Nonmetallic Ion (ANION) is group of two or
more nonmetals atoms covalently bonded but the group has
an overall negative charge. The majority of Polyatomic ions are
Anions composed a nonmetal or transitional metal bonded to
oxygen. All nonmetals (except fluorine), some transitional
metals, and many metalloids bond with oxygen to make these
Anions. These ions are often called oxyanions. The Master list
has over 130 polyatomic Anions.

3. Look at the list of polyatomic ions below we will use when we
write the Names or Formulas of make Ternary Ionic Compounds:

-ate Polyatomic ions with four oxygen atoms
-ate Polyatomic ions with three oxygen atoms
Polyatomic ions which also contain hydrogen
-ide Polyatomic ions (and also Cyanate which is different)
Positive Charged (Cation) Polyatomic Ions

4. The total charge on the Ternary ionic compound must add up to zero like the Binary Ionic Compounds (Guideline #1). Use the Least Common Multiple technique explained in Guideline #1 to balance the formula. To indicate more than one polyatomic ion group enclose the group in parenthesis and apply the subscript to the group.

5. For example, write the formula and charges of the ions, then balance using the LCM:
Cation Anion

Magnesium phosphate Ammonium Carbonate Calcium hypochorite

Mg²⁺ PO₄^3- NH₄¹⁺ CO₃^2- Ca²⁺ ClO^1-

The LCM is six The LCM is 2 The LCM is two

Mg₃(PO₄)₂ (NH₄)₂CO₃ Ca(ClO)₂

Do Not Forget if the metallic element has more than one ionic state,

write a ROMAN NUMERAL after the element’s name in parenthesis

to indicate which charge state the metallic element is using to form the compound.

. 

To complete Project #5 Task#7, you will write the names of 10 Ternary Ionic Compounds from the formula.( Do not forget to put the Roman numeral if the element has more than one ionic charge possible [Transitional metals])

Task #7: Ternary (IONIC) COMPOUND Names

To complete Project #5 Task#8, you will write the formulas of 10 Ternary Ionic Compounds from the name. (Do not forget the Roman numeral if the element has more than one ionic charge possible [most Transitional metals])

Task #8: Ternary (IONIC) COMPOUND Formulas

Sample Ternary Ionic Compound Names & Formulas Practice

Using a periodic chart write the names or formulas of the following compounds depending on whether the formula or name is given:
 1. Na₂CO₃ __Sodium carbonate_______

 2. K₂SO₄ __Potassium sulfate_______

3. (NH₄)₃PO₄ __Ammonium phosphate___

4. Ca(ClO₃)₂ __Calcium chlorate________

 5. CuNO₃ __Copper I Nitrate_________

6. Aluminum Hydroxide __Al(OH)₃_____

 7. Ammonium carbonate __(NH₄)₂CO₃___

8. Sodium Hypochlorite ___NaClO_____

 9. Magnesium Nitrate ___Mg(NO₃)₂____

 10. Iron III sulfite ___Fe₂(SO₃)₃___

Discover Polyatomic Ion Formula and Charges from Interactive Web Page:
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