The term chloridum and salt grammar
The Latin name for chloride — chloridum — belongs to the second declension of neuter nouns (with the characteristic ending -um in the dictionary form chloridum, i n).
In the nomenclature of chemical compounds, the names of salts of oxygen-free acids are constructed according to a single strict principle:
- First comes the name of the cation (metal or organic radical) in the genitive case with a capital letter.
- Second comes the name of the anion in the nominative case with a lowercase letter.
Thus, the oxygen-free salt sodium chloride takes the form Natrii chloridum (where Natrii is the genitive of Natrium, and chloridum is the nominative of the anion).
Examples of compounds with chloride
In pharmaceutical terminology, the chloride group is represented by both inorganic salts and complex organic compounds.
| Russian name | Latin form (Nom. sing.) | Type of compound |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium chloride | Natrii chloridum | Inorganic salt |
| Ethyl chloride (aethylii chloridum) | Aethylii chloridum | Chlorinated hydrocarbon radical |
| Hydrochloric acid | Acidum hydrochloricum | Inorganic acid |
As part of the complex ethyl radical, the root also retains the genitive case: Aethylii acts as the determinative element, followed by the anionic part chloridum.
Chlorine-containing drugs and related terms
In addition to the isolated chloride anion, the chlorine root is found in numerous synthetic preparations and chemical compounds:
- Acids: hydrochloric acid is written as the phrase acidum hydrochloricum, where the adjective is derived from the chlorine stem.
- Synthetic drugs: the root is part of the names of diuretics and antiseptics, for example Dichlothiazidum (dichlorothiazide) or Chlorophylliptum (chlorophyllipt).
- Antibacterial agents: the component is present in combination drugs, such as Cortomycetin (cortomycetin), containing a chloramphenicol base.
Chlorides in prescription lines
When writing a prescription after the directive Recipe (Take), the ingredient name shifts to the genitive case (Genitivus), answering the question "of what?":
- In the nominative case, the compound is pronounced as Natrii chloridum.
- In a prescription line, the anion changes the second declension ending -um to -i: Natrii chloridi (of sodium chloride).
For example, a test prescription formulation includes the form Natrii chloridi alongside other salts, such as Argenti nitratis (silver nitrate) or Kalii permanganatis (potassium permanganate).
It is easy to remember the chloride form: in the nominative case, the ending matches the word "aquarium" (chloridum), and in prescriptions it always changes to "-i" (chloridi).
Class and exam questions
What gender and declension is the word chloridum?
The word chloridum is a neuter noun of the second declension. In the Genitivus singularis, it has the ending -i (chloridi).
How is "sodium chloride" written in a prescription after Recipe?
After the word Recipe, the genitive case form is written: Natrii chloridi. The cation Natrii is already in Genitivus, while the anion chloridum changes to chloridi.
How to translate "ethyl chloride" into Latin?
In the nomenclature of medicinal substances, ethyl chloride is written separately: the cation-like radical is put in the genitive case, and the anion in the nominative: Aethylii chloridum.
What else to study on this topic
- Rules for agreement and declension of salts of oxygen-containing acids (nitras, carbonas, phosphas)
- Formatting prescription formulas for soft dosage forms: ointments (unguentum) and suppositories (suppositoria cum...)
- Latin names of sodium and potassium salts (Natrii thiosulfas, Kalii permanganas, Sulfacylum-natrium)
- Stem segments of antibiotics and sulfonamides (-cillin-, -sulfa-, -mycin-)
- Features of acid and oxide names (acidum benzoicum, Aluminii hydroxydum, Hydrogenii peroxydum)
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