On the other hand, if we wish simply to represent the final products formed, the following is used.
NaOH + HCl = NaCl + H2O.
Both of these methods will therefore be used:
Radicals. It has been emphasized that the hydroxyl group (OH) always forms the anion of a base, while the group NO3 forms the anion of nitric acid and sodium nitrate; the group SO4, the anion of sulphuric acid and calcium sulphate. A group of elements which in this way constitutes a part of a molecule, acting as a unit in a chemical change, or forming ions in solution, is called a radical. Some of these radicals have been given special names, the names signifying the elements present in the radical. Thus we have the hydroxyl radical (OH) and the nitrate radical (NO3).
DEFINITION: A radical is a group of elements forming part of a molecule, and acting as a unit in chemical reactions.
Names of acids, bases, and salts. Since acids, bases, and salts are so intimately related to each other, it is very advantageous to give names to the three classes in accordance with some fixed system. The system universally adopted is as follows:
Naming of bases. All bases are called hydroxides. They are distinguished from each other by prefixing the name of the element which is in combination with the hydroxyl group. Examples: sodium hydroxide (NaOH); calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2); copper hydroxide (Cu(OH)2).
Naming of acids. The method of naming acids depends upon whether the acid consists of two elements or three.
1. Binary acids. Acids containing only one element in addition to hydrogen are called binary acids. They are given names consisting of the prefix hydro-, the name of the second element present, and the termination -ic. Examples: hydrochloric acid (HCl); hydrosulphuric acid (H2S).
2. Ternary acids. In addition to the two elements present in binary acids, the great majority of acids also contain oxygen. They therefore consist of three elements and are called ternary acids. It usually happens that the same three elements can unite in different proportions to make several different acids. The most familiar one of these is given a name ending in the suffix -ic, while the one with less oxygen is given a similar name, but ending in the suffix -ous. Examples: nitric acid (HNO3); nitrous acid (HNO2). In cases where more than two acids are known, use is made of prefixes in addition to the two suffixes -icand -ous. Thus the prefix per- signifies an acid still richer in oxygen; the prefix hypo- signifies one with less oxygen.