Binary Covalent Nomenclature

The purpose of this page is to describe the guidelines for constructing the names for binary covalent compounds, which are pure substances that consist of two nonmetallic elements.

Prefixes
1 - mon(o)
2 - di
3 - tri
4 - tetr(a)
5 - pent(a)
6 - hex(a)
7 - hept(a)
8 - oct(a)
9 - non(a)
10 - dec(a)

Roots of the Nonmetals
H - hyd
C - carb
N - nitr
P - phosph
As - arsen
O - ox
S - sulf
Se - selen
F - fluor
Cl - chlor
Br - brom
I - iod

Recognizing Systematic Names ,

N2 in N2O3 > Dinitrogen
O3 in N2O3 > Trioxide