Question

Question #05376

Answer 1

You need Roman numerals when writing formulas for ionic compounds when the metal ions can have more than one oxidation number.

Explanation:

The most important metals in this group are those in Groups 4 to 11, plus mercury, tin, thallium, lead, and bismuth.

The method of using Roman numerals is called the Stock System.

You use Roman numerals in parentheses to indicate the oxidation number of the metal ion.

For example, iron chloride would be an ambiguous name for the compound `"FeCl"_2`, because iron and chlorine can also form `"FeCl"_3`.

In `"FeCl"_2`, the iron atom has an oxidation number (charge) of +2, so the name is iron(II) chloride.

Note: there are no spaces between the name of the metal and the opening parenthesis.

`"FeCl"_3` is then iron(III) chloride.

Similarly, `"MnO"` is manganese(II) oxide and `"MnO"_2` is manganese(IV) oxide.

Often, you must use the anion (negative ion) to determine the oxidation number of the positive ion.

You do not use the Stock system if the metal has only one allowed oxidation number.

For example, `"NaCl"` is just sodium chloride, not sodium(I) chloride, because sodium always has an oxidation number of +1 in its compounds.

Here is a listing of the most common oxidation numbers.

oxidation numbers
(from slideplayer.com)

This video gives more discussion of how to use the stock naming system.