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8. Why do we call Ba(NO3)2 barium nitrate, but we call Fe(NO3)2 iron(ii) nitrate?

Accepted Answer

When a metal forms more than one cation, Roman numerals are used to specify the charge of the metal ion in the chemical formula. The name of the compound then includes the name of the metal followed by the name of the anion and the Roman numeral indicating the charge of the metal ion. For example, Fe(NO3)2 is called iron(II) nitrate because the iron ion in the compound has a charge of +2, CaCO3 is calcium carbonate because the calcium ion in the compound has a charge of +2, and Fe2O3 is iron(III) oxide because the iron ion in the compound has a charge of +3.

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