Question

Write the name of the following compounds:
${\text{A}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{2}}}{{\text{(S}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}}{\text{)}}_{\text{3}}}$
${\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}{\text{OH}}$

Answer 1

. Symbolically Aluminium is denoted as ‘${\text{Al}}$’, Sulphur is denoted as ‘${\text{S}}$’, Oxygen is denoted as ‘${\text{O}}$’, Nitrogen is denoted as ‘${\text{N}}$’ and Hydrogen is denoted as ‘${\text{H}}$’. And by knowing the functional group and ion present in the compound we can name them.

Complete step by step answer: Name of the first compound ${\text{A}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{2}}}{{\text{(S}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}}{\text{)}}_{\text{3}}}$ is ‘Aluminium sulphate’ as in this compound Aluminium metal and sulphate ion is present.
-Aluminium is present in the form of cation and showing $+ 3$ oxidation state, because atomic number of aluminium is $13$ and in its outermost shell $3$electrons are present. By removing these three electrons aluminium gets stable electronic configuration, that’s why it shows $+ 3$ oxidation state.
-Sulphate is present in the form of anion and shows $- 2$ oxidation state.
Name of the second compound ${\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}{\text{OH}}$ is ‘Ammonium Hydroxide’ as in this compound ammonium and hydroxide ions are present.
-Ammonium is present in the form of cation whose oxidation state is $+ 1$.
-Hydroxide is present in the form of anion whose oxidation state is $- 1$.

Additional information: Both Aluminium sulphate and Ammonium hydroxide is basic in nature.
- Aluminium sulphate is also known by the name alum and used for the purification of water through the coagulation of impurities present in water.
-Ammonium hydroxide is mainly used as a cleaning agent in many factories, industries and houses.

Note: During the nomenclature of ${\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}{\text{OH}}$, some of you may write ammonia in place of ammonium and that will be wrong. So always keep in mind that whenever ${\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}$ is given then we will use ammonium.