Question

How do you write the name for $NaCl{O_4}$?

Answer 1

The nomenclature of inorganic compounds is done by writing the name of cation followed by the name of anion. Each of the atoms or groups is labeled in the name.

Complete step by step answer: The name of inorganic compounds is done systematically following the IUPAC rules of naming. The IUPAC stands for International union of pure and applied chemistry.
The inorganic compounds contain cations and anions. Cations are the positively charged species while anions are the negatively charged species. The rules for naming are:
a. The name of anions with single atoms finish with -ide suffix. As for example $C{l^ - }$ is chloride.
b. The compounds containing both cations and anions are named in the order of cation followed by anion. As for example $NaCl$ is written as sodium chloride.
c. The name of the cations depends on the oxidation state of the ion. The oxidation state is written in the parentheses when the name of the element is written in normal form. As for example the copper exhibits two oxidation states as $+ 1$ and $+ 2$ , so the name is written as copper (I) and copper (II).However in Latin the $C{u^ + }$ ion is written as cuprous and the $C{u^{2 + }}$ is written as cupric.
d. Polyatomic anions which contain two or three oxygen atoms are called with a suffix as -ite or –ate. The number of oxygen atoms decides which suffix is added. For example the $N{O_2}^ -$ion is nitrite, $N{O_3}^ -$ ion is nitrate. In case with four oxygen atoms the prefix is used as per-, for example $Cl{O_4}^ -$ ion is perchlorate.
e. The compounds containing a single hydrogen ion are named with a prefix as bi-. For example $NaHC{O_3}$ is named as sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate.
The given compound is an inorganic salt of sodium. The cation is sodium ion ($N{a^ + }$) and the anion is $Cl{O_4}^ -$ ion which is an oxyanion called perchlorate. Thus following the rules of IUPAC the name of the compound is sodium perchlorate.

Note:
A chlorine atom and four oxygen atoms combine to give the perchlorate ion as $Cl{O_4}^ -$. The chlorine is in the highest oxidation state of $+ 7$. The name of inorganic complexes involving transition metals however follows different rules for naming of the compounds.