What is the name of #Ni(ClO_3)_2#?

1 Answer
Dec 19, 2015

Nickel(II) chlorate.

Explanation:

You're dealing with an ionic compound, which means that you can break it down into cation, or positively charged ion, and anion, or negatively charged ion.

Right from the start, the #2# subscript used for the anion tells you that the charge of the nickel ion is equal to #2+#. This of course implies that you're dealing with nickel in its #+2# oxidation state.

Since nickel is a transition metal that can exhibit multiple oxidation states, you're going to have to use Roman numerals to name this ionic compound.

Now focus on the anion, #"ClO"_3^(-)#. The anion has a #1-# charge, which is why you need two of them to balance the #2+# charge of the cation.

The #"ClO"_3^(-)# anion is called chlorate, or chlorate anion, and it features chlorine in its #5+# oxidation state.

This means that the ionic compound will be called - remember that the cation is added first

nickel(II) chlorate

Here the Roman numeral (II) symbolizes the oxidation state of the transition metal cation.