Chemical nomenclature: elements, acids, oxides, hydroxides

5 topics with brief reviews: definitions, key facts, and class questions.

This section is devoted to the foundation of pharmaceutical terminology—the rules for forming Latin names of chemical substances. You will learn how to correctly translate the names of chemical elements, construct acid names depending on the oxidation state, and build terms for oxides, peroxides, and hydroxides.

We pay special attention to chemical stem morphemes (e.g., -thi-, -yl-, -az-). Knowing these structural elements allows you to decipher the composition of an unfamiliar drug at a glance. The section concludes with a core vocabulary minimum of medicinal substances, which is essential for successfully passing your credit test and writing prescriptions.

During practical classes, instructors are most strict when evaluating acid names (especially the choice between the suffixes -icum and -osum) and proper grammatical agreement in oxide names. Pay close attention to spelling: a forgotten letter "h" in the word hydrochloridum or confusion with "y" are the most frequent causes of lost points on tests.

Section Topics

Chemical elementsIn medical nomenclature, the names of chemical elements are formed Names of acidsNomina acidorum Oxides, peroxides, and hydroxidesIn pharmaceutical Latin, the names of oxygen-containing compounds are formed Chemical stem morphemesIn pharmaceutical terminology, stem morphemes act as Lexical minimum: medicinal substancesIn pharmaceutical Latin, the names of the vast majority of medicinal

Frequently asked questions for this section

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 is the suffix -os-um translated?

In acid names, the Latin suffix -os-um always indicates a lower oxidation state and is consistently translated into Russian with the suffix -ist(aya). For example: nitrosum — nitrous.

In which case is the element name in the term?

The name of the chemical element is always the first word and is put in the genitive singular (Genitivus singularis).

Why is sodium designated differently in some foreign articles?

Alternative Latin names for elements are often used in foreign medical publications. For example, sodium may be designated as Sodium, and potassium as Potassium.

What is the characteristic feature of the word depuratus?

The adjective depuratus (purified) in pharmaceutical practice has strict collocations and is applied primarily to solid substances, in particular, purified sulfur.

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