Features of Chemical Nomenclature in Medicine
Medical and pharmaceutical terminology includes an extensive corpus of chemical terms, as many chemical compounds serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients. In this field, priority is given to two main types of names:
- Traditional semi-systematic names.
- Trivial names.
These specific forms hold a key place in drug nomenclature. Students and specialists need to study and memorize them thoroughly, as the names of complex compounds will be built upon them in the future.
Basic grammatical rule and exceptions
To correctly use element names in Latin, it is necessary to master their grammatical characteristics.
General rule: The absolute majority of Latin names of chemical elements are nouns of the second declension. They belong to the neuter gender (genus neutrum) and in the nominative case singular (Nominativus singularis) always have the characteristic ending -um.
Exceptions to the rule: There are two major elements in the nomenclature that do not follow the general rule. Their grammatical features must be learned by heart:
- Sulfur — Sulfur, ŭris n. This noun belongs to the third declension, although it retains the neuter gender.
- Phosphorus — Phosphŏrus, i m. This word belongs to the second declension, but has the masculine gender (genus masculinum) and ends in -us.
List of essential chemical elements
Below is a list of basic elements frequently encountered in medical practice. Their chemical symbols, full Latin dictionary form (with the genitive singular ending and gender designation), and Russian translation are indicated.
- Ag — Argentum, i n (Silver)
- Al — Aluminium, ii n (Aluminium)
- As — Arsenĭcum, i n (Arsenic)
- Au — Aurum, i n (Gold)
- B — Bromum, i n (Bromine)
- Ba — Barium, i n (Barium)
- Bi — Bismuthum, i n (Bismuth)
- C — Carboneum, i n (Carbon)
- Ca — Calcium, i n (Calcium)
- Cl — Chlorum, i n (Chlorine)
- Cu — Cuprum, i n (Copper)
- F — Fluorum, i n (Latin variant) or Phthorum, i n (Greek variant) (Fluorine)
- Fe — Ferrum, i n (Iron)
- H — Hydrogenium, i n (Hydrogen)
- Hg — Hydrargўrum, i n (Mercury)
- I — Iodum, i n (Iodine)
- K — Kalium, i n (Potassium)
- Li — Lithium, i n (Lithium)
- Mg — Magnesium, i n or Magnium, i n (Magnesium)
- Mn — Manganum, i n (Manganese)
- N — Nitrogenium, i n (Nitrogen)
- Na — Natrium, i n (Sodium)
- O — Oxygenium, i n (Oxygen)
- P — Phosphŏrus, i m (Phosphorus)
- Pb — Plumbum, i n (Lead)
- S — Sulfur, ŭris n (Sulfur)
- Si — Silicium, i n (Silicon)
- Zn — Zincum, i n (Zinc)
Briefly: answers to topical questions
How are Latin names of acids formed from the roots of chemical elements?
Latin names of acids are formed by adding suffixes indicating the oxidation state and presence of oxygen to the element's stem.
- Oxygen-containing acids (maximum oxidation state) — the suffix -ic-um is used (e.g., Acidum sulfuricum).
- Oxygen-containing acids (low oxidation state) — the suffix -os-um is used (e.g., Acidum sulfurosum).
- Binary acids (non-oxygen acids) — consist of the element's stem and the suffix -ic-um (e.g., ac. hydrobromicum).
How are Latin names of oxides, peroxides, and hydroxides constructed?
Latin names of these compounds include the name of the chemical element and the corresponding dictionary noun.
- Oxides — are formed using the noun oxydum, i n (e.g., Zinci oxydum — zinc oxide).
- Peroxides — are formed using the noun peroxydum, i n (e.g., Hydrogenii peroxydum — hydrogen peroxide).
- Hydroxides — are formed using the noun hydroxydum, i n (e.g., Aluminii hydroxydum — aluminium hydroxide).
How are Latin names of salts (anions) formed based on chemical elements?
Latin names of salts consist of two nouns: the name of the cation in the genitive case (first) and the name of the anion in the nominative case (second). Anion names are formed by attaching standard suffixes to the stems of Latin acid names:
- Salts of oxyacids (highest oxidation state) — suffix -as (Russian -at).
- Salts of oxoacids (lower oxidation state) — suffix -is (Russian -ит).
- Salts of hydracids — suffix -id-um (Russian -ид).
To avoid grammatical errors, remember: absolutely all elements are "neuter" (neuter gender ending in -um), except for phosphorus (masculine) and sulfur (third declension feminine).
Class and exam questions
To which gender and declension do most elements belong?
Almost all Latin names of chemical elements are neuter nouns belonging to the second declension (ending in -um).
How to correctly write the Latin name of sulfur and phosphorus?
Sulfur is translated as Sulfur, ŭris n (third declension). Phosphorus is Phosphŏrus, i m (second declension, but masculine).
Is there a difference in how to write fluorine or magnesium?
Two variants are permitted for fluorine: the Latin Fluorum and the Greek Phthorum. Magnesium also has synonyms — Magnesium or Magnium. All of them belong to the neuter gender of the second declension.
What else to study on this topic
- Latin names of acids
- Rules for forming oxide names
- Principles of hydroxide naming
- Chemical compounds as medicinal products
Master the entire topic in the "Latin Language" course
This is a summary. The course covers everything tested in classes and exams.
- Complete study guide on "Chemical Elements" and 2,323 more pages of the subject
- Assignments and quizzes after every topic — just like in a colloquium
- AI tutor answers questions on the topic anytime
- 107 video lessons on the subject
Other topics in the section "Chemical Nomenclature: Elements, Acids, Oxides, Hydroxides"
Prepared by WhiteCoat Pro faculty in accordance with the medical school curriculum. For educational purposes only.