Naming Compounds: Introduction

The Cautionary Tale of Dihydrogen Monoxide...

The following is an excerpt from an article in Natural History 5/98 by Neil de Grasse Tyson:

Nathan Zohner, a student at Eagle Rock Junior High School in Idaho, conducted a clever science-fair experiment that tested anti-technology sentiments and associated chemical phobias in 1997. He invited people to sign a petition that demanded either strict control of, or a total ban on, dihydrogen monoxide. He listed some of the odious properties of this colorless and odorless substance:

1. It is a major component of acid rain.

2. It eventually dissolves nearly anything it comes into contact with.

3. It is lethal if accidentally inhaled.

4. It can cause severe burns in its gaseous state.

5. It has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients.

Forty-three out of fifty people approached by Zohner signed the petition, six were undecided, and one was a strong supporter of dihydrogen monoxide and refused to sign. Yes, 86% of the passersby voted to ban water (H₂O) from the environment.

We live in a world made of chemicals. Table salt is sodium chloride; sugar is a disaccharide; a major ingredient of vinegar is acetic acid; glass is a super-cooled liquid silicate; our stomach contains 1 M hydrochloric acid. So, as you can see it is important to be able to recognize a chemical by its name. In this tutorial, you will learn about the systematic naming of inorganic compounds.

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Revised: 2004-08-08