Question

What is the name of `Ni(ClO_3)_2`?

Answer 1

Nickel(II) chlorate.

Explanation:

You're dealing with an ionic compound, which means that you can break it down into cation, or positively charged ion, and anion, or negatively charged ion.

Right from the start, the `2` subscript used for the anion tells you that the charge of the nickel ion is equal to `2+`. This of course implies that you're dealing with nickel in its `+2` oxidation state.

Since nickel is a transition metal that can exhibit multiple oxidation states, you're going to have to use Roman numerals to name this ionic compound.

Now focus on the anion, `"ClO"_3^(-)`. The anion has a `1-` charge, which is why you need two of them to balance the `2+` charge of the cation.

The `"ClO"_3^(-)` anion is called chlorate, or chlorate anion, and it features chlorine in its `5+` oxidation state.

This means that the ionic compound will be called - remember that the cation is added first

nickel(II) chlorate

Here the Roman numeral (II) symbolizes the oxidation state of the transition metal cation.