IUPAC stands for the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The IUPAC is an international body that represents scientists in chemistry and was established in 1919. They are responsible for creating a common language in chemistry so that chemists from across the world can communicate without confusion.
The IUPAC is in charge of deciding how chemicals are named, i.e. chemical nomenclature and terminology. They decide how new elements are named in the periodic table, standard methods for measurements, atomic weights, and other scientifically evaluated data. They do this by creating a committee to assign rules that must be followed while deciding on a name for a compound.
The IUPAC is also involved in other activities like publishing technical reports, journals, books, databases, and other information that helps researchers and scientists in their research work.
These are some of the rules set by the IUPAC in naming mononuclear coordination compounds:
Consider the IUPAC name of the complex K3[Cr(C2O4)3].3H2O. It will be named by following these steps.
Thus, following IUPAC nomenclature rules, the name of this compound will be potassium tris(oxalate)chromate (III) trihydrate.
Given below is a table with the names of some of the ligands following IUPAC nomenclature rules.
Anionic Ligand | IUPAC Name |
F- | Fluoro |
Cl- | Chloro |
Br- | Bromo |
CN- | Cyano |
CH3COO- | Acetato |
C2O42- | Oxalato |
OH- | Hydroxo |
Neutral ligand | IUPAC Name |
N2 | Dinitrogen |
C5H5N | Pyridine |
CO | Carbonyl |
H2O | Aqua |
NH3 | Ammine |
NO | Nitrosyl |
O2 | Dioxygen |
The IUPAC names of some of the metals when found in anionic complexes are:
Metal | IUPAC Name in Anionic Complex |
Cobalt | Cobaltate |
Gold | Aurate |
Manganese | Manganate |
Lead | Plumbate |
Silver | Argentate |
Copper | Cuprate |
Platinum | Platinate |
Tin | Stannate |
Zinc | Zincate |
Here are the names of some mononuclear coordination compounds following IUPAC nomenclature rules.
Complex | IUPAC Name |
[Cr(H2O)5Cl]Cl2 | Pentaquochloro-chromium(III) chloride. |
K3[Fe(CN)6] | Potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) |
[Fe(CN)6]3− | Hexacyanoferrate(III) |
[Cr(H2O)5Cl]2+ | Pentaquochloro-chromium(III) |
[CrCl2(en)2]2SO4 | Dichlorobis(ethylenediamine)chromium (III) sulphate |
Na3[Co(NO2)6] | Sodium hexanitrocobaltate (III) |
[CoCl2(NH3)4]+ | Tetraamminedichlorocobalt (III) ion |
[COCl6]3- | Hexachlorocobaltate (III) ion |
[Ni(CN)2]‑2 | Tetracyanonickelate (II) ion |
The IUPAC has set different rules for naming acids. Acids are named after the anion they form when they dissolve in water. Acids will have various names depending upon which anion is formed.
Simple acids or binary acids have one hydrogen and one anion. Their names usually end with -ide. They also use the prefix -hydro, followed by the first syllable of the acid and then the suffix “ic.” Following these rules, HCl – which contains hydrogen and chlorine – will be called hydrochloric acid according to IUPAC naming rules.
Complex acids have oxygen and follow more detailed rules. Some of these are as follows:
Here is a table containing the names of some acids, including acetic acid, following IUPAC nomenclature rules.
Anion | Anion name | Acid | Acid name |
CO32- | Carbonate ion | H2CO3 | Carbonic acid |
Cl- | Chloride ion | HCl | Hydrochloric acid |
NO3- | Nitrate ion | HNO3 | Nitric acid |
CH3COO- | Acetate ion | CH3COOH | Acetic Acid |
The IUPAC is an organisation responsible for making rules for naming compounds. Their responsibility is to ensure that scientists worldwide can understand each other without confusion by following these standard naming rules.
This ensures that compounds are named following the same rules and helps all scientists, researchers, professors, and students understand which compound is being discussed. IUPAC naming rules change based on the nature of the compound as well.
Like coordination compounds, other types of compounds also follow different rules. Other acids, alcohol, bases, aldehyde, and ketonic groups all have their own rules that must be followed while being named. While some of the mononuclear coordination compounds and IUPAC names and some IUPAC names of acids are mentioned in these tables, many names must be individually calculated and arrived at.