Question

What is the name of `Ag_2O`?

Answer 1

Here's my thought process:

• From formula: `"Ag"` `->` silver, just from looking at the periodic table.
• `"O"`: second column from neon, so the oxidation state is `""^(-2)` since it would want to gain two electrons as a free element to get an octet valency.
• This is a combination of a metal (`"Ag"`) and nonmetal (`"O"`) `->` ionic compound.
• Ionic compound `->` oxidation state of `"O"` `=` actual charge. Thus, the charge on oxygen is `""^(2-)`. `->` anion
• `"O"`: anion stem = "ox"
• Anion ending in an ionic compound: "-ide"
• There are two equivalents of silver, due to the `color(blue)(""_2)` subscript.
• The charge on silver for the neutral `"Ag"_2"O"` is gotten from solving `color(blue)(2)stackrel("Ag")overbrace((""^(?+))) + stackrel("O")overbrace((""^(2-))) = 0` for `"?"`.
• Thus, the charge on silver is `color(blue)(""^(1+))`.

Knowing the charge, and recalling the roman numeral for `""^(1+)` is `\mathbf("I")`, we now have the name.

Name:
cation name + roman numeral in parentheses + anion stem + anion ending

• Cation name: silver
• Roman numeral: `\mathbf("I")`
• Anion stem: "ox"
• Anion ending: "-ide"

Silver + (I) + ox + ide

`->` Silver(I) oxide