Nomenclature. Dropping the a or o when a compound sounds wierd. ?

Question

i tried saying decoxide and decaoxide out loud but i dont see why either of them would be weird to pronounce

i cant distinguish when a compound sounds weird or not! is there another way of doing it?

Answer 1

The following refers to compounds made of two nonmetals. As a general rule, when the second element begins with a vowel, any prefix that ends in a vowel has the the vowel on the prefix dropped.

carbon tetrachloride - the vowel on tetra is not dropped because chloride begins with a consonant.

carbon monoxide - the vowel on mono is dropped because oxide begins with a vowel.

diphosphorus pentoxide - the vowel on penta is dropped because oxide begins with a vowel.

There are always exceptions to every rule. Here's one:

carbon dioxide - the vowel on di is not dropped even though oxide begins with a vowel.

Answer 2

Don't EVER drop a vowel or consonant in saying or spelling the name of a compound.   It very likely would make it a different compound.

Chemists learn to say these names trippingly off the tongue  :)   It's one of the things that is absolutely essential to being a chemist.  :)   Another such talent is being able to take a salt shaker in your off hand (your left hand, for example, if you're right handed)  hold it only in that hand,  unscrew the top of the salt shaker using only that hand never letting it touch anything else,  rotate the top completely around,  and then s***w it back on.   That kind of skill is useful in doing complex experiments.  :)

Don't worry about whether the name of a compound sounds weird.   ALL names of compounds sound weird.    You just learn to like it if you're a chemist.