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When we name ionic compounds, what don't we care about?

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Final answer:

When naming ionic compounds, the specific charges and ratios of ions are not included in the name, as it is assumed that one can infer these from the valence states of the elements involved.

Step-by-step explanation:

When naming ionic compounds, we do not consider the amounts of each ion that combine to form the compound, nor do we include the charges of the ions in the name. This is because ionic compounds are named with the assumption that the reader can infer the proper ratios based on the elements' common valence states. For instance, in the compound NaCl, known as sodium chloride, the '1:1' ratio and the charges of the sodium and chloride ions are understood and not stated in the name.

There are also compounds where the metal can have more than one charge, known as variable charge metals. In such cases, a Roman numeral is used to indicate the specific charge of the metal. For example, FeCl₂ is named iron(II) chloride, where the Roman numeral 'II' indicates that iron has a +2 charge in this compound.

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