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Why is the molecule ZrO2 (Zirconium(IV) Oxide) also called Zirconium Dioxide?
It is formed in an Ionic bond which means that the prefix "Di" shouldn't be added to the oxide as it is in Covalent bonds, but I commonly see it and other similar molecules with the prefixes added in places like some MSDS documents. Even Wikipedia lists it as a IUPAC name even though the IUPAC explicitly states that Ionic bonds should not have suffixes like the covalent bonds do.
Is there some exception to this nomenclature rule that I don't know about or is it just a mistake that is so common that even professional chemists would make it?
3 Answers
- SOT3Lv 69 years agoFavorite Answer
Two problems with your thinking. The ionic argument only applies to pure ionic bonding when the metal has one main oxidation state. Zirconium can have multiple oxidation states and ZrO2 is not pure ionic and has lots of covalent character.
