An "ic acid" is a naming convention used for neutral acids that contain oxygen and do not contain a metal.
Here's a breakdown:
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Acid Naming Conventions: In chemistry, the names of acids are derived from the names of the anions (negatively charged ions) they produce when dissolved in water.
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Oxygen's Role (Oxyacids): The "ic acid" ending specifically applies to oxyacids. Oxyacids are acids that contain oxygen. These acids typically consist of hydrogen, oxygen, and another element (often a nonmetal).
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No Metal Present: Crucially, "ic acid" naming is not used for acids formed with metals. It’s reserved for when the central atom bonded to the oxygen is a nonmetal.
How it works:
- Identify the anion: To name an oxyacid, you first identify the polyatomic ion (the anion) present.
- Anion ending change:
- If the anion ends in "-ate," the acid name ends in "-ic acid." (Example: Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) becomes sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄))
- If the anion ends in "-ite," the acid name ends in "-ous acid." (Example: Sulfite (SO₃²⁻) becomes sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃))
Examples:
| Anion | Acid Name | Chemical Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrate (NO₃⁻) | Nitric Acid | HNO₃ |
| Chlorate (ClO₃⁻) | Chloric Acid | HClO₃ |
| Carbonate (CO₃²⁻) | Carbonic Acid | H₂CO₃ |
Important Considerations:
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Prefixes: Sometimes, prefixes like "per-" and "hypo-" are added to indicate the number of oxygen atoms present in the oxyacid relative to the "ic" and "ous" forms.
- Per- indicates one more oxygen atom than the "-ic" acid.
- Hypo- indicates one fewer oxygen atom than the "-ous" acid.
- For example, hypochlorous acid (HClO), chlorous acid (HClO₂), chloric acid (HClO₃), and perchloric acid (HClO₄).
In summary, the "ic acid" suffix is a key part of naming acids, particularly oxyacids, and denotes acids derived from "-ate" anions, indicating they contain oxygen and no metal.
