Common elements:
H – hydrogen
	
Li - lithium
Na – sodium
K – potassium
Mg – magnesium
Ca - calcium
Ti-
ti
tanium
C – carbon
Cr - chromium
Mo - molybdenum
W - wolfram, tungsten
Mn - manganese
Cd - cadmium
N – nitrogen
O – oxygen
Fe - iron
Co - cobalt
Ni - nickel
Cu - copper
Ag – silver
Au – gold
Al – aluminium
Zn - zinc
Hg - mercury
Si – silicon
S – sulphur
Cl – chlorine
Pb - lead
	
	
	
	
	
Ne - neon
	
	
Xe - xenon
	
	
	
	
	
	
Zn – zinc
Sn –
ti
n
Ph – phosphorus
I – iodine
Oxides
Czech terminology - su
ffi
xes: - ný, - natý, - itý, -ičitý, -ečný/ičný, ový, -istý, -ičelý.
1. -ný např. Li2O, oxid lithný
2. -natý např. MgO, oxid hořečnatý
3. -itý např. Al2O3, oxid hlinitý
4. -ičitý např. CO2, oxid uhličitý
5. -ičný/-ečný např. P2O5, oxid fosforečný
6. -ový např. MoO3, oxid molybdenový
7. -istý např. Cl2O7, oxid chloristý
8. -ičelý např. OsO4, oxid osmičelý
English terminology - prefixes: mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, octa-.
Examples of oxides
The following table gives examples of commonly encountered oxides. Only a few representatives
are given, as the number of polyatomic ions encountered in practice is very large.
Name Formula Found/Usage
Water
(hydrogen
oxide)
H2O Common
 
solvent, required by
 
carbon-based life
Nitrous
oxide
N2O
Laughing gas,
 
anesthetic
 
(used in a combination
with
 
diatomic
 
oxygen
 
(O2) to make
 
nitrous oxide and
oxygenanesthesia), produced by
 
nitrogen-fixing
bacteria,
 
nitrous,
 
oxidizing agent
 
in
 
rocketry,
 
aerosol
propellant,
 
recreational drug,
 
greenhouse gas. Other nitrogen
oxides such as
 
NO2
 
(nitrogen dioxide),
 
NO
 
(nitrogen
oxide),
 
N2O3
 
(dinitrogen trioxide) and
 
N2O4
 
(dinitrogen tetroxide)
exist, particularly in areas with notable
 
air pollution. They are also
strong oxidisers, can add
 
nitric acid
 
to
 
acid rain, and are harmful to
health.
Silicon
dioxide
SiO2 Sand,
 
quartz
Iron(II,III)
oxide
Fe3O4 Iron ore,
 
rust, along with
 
iron(III) oxide
 
(Fe2O3)
Aluminium
oxide
Al2O3
Aluminium
 
ore,
 
alumina,
 
corundum,
 
ruby
 
(corundum
with
 
impurities
 
of
 
chromium).
Zinc oxide ZnO
Required for
 
vulcanization
 
of
 
rubber, additive
to
 
concrete,
 
sunscreen,
 
skin
care
 
lotions,
 
antibacterial
 
and
 
antifungal
 
properties,
 
food additive,
white
 
pigment.
Carbon
dioxide
CO2
Constituent of the
 
atmosphere of Earth, the most abundant and
important
 
greenhouse gas, used by
 
plants
 
in
 
photosynthesis
 
to
make
 
sugars, product of biological processes such
as
 
respiration
 
and chemical reactions such
as
 
combustion
 
and
 
chemical
decomposition
 
of
 
carbonates.
 
CO
 
or
 
Carbon monoxide
 
exists as a
product of
 
incomplete combustion
 
and is a highly
 
toxic
 
gas.
Calcium
oxide
CaO
Quicklime
 
(used in
 
construction
 
to make
 
mortar
 
and
 
concrete),
used in
 
self-heating cans
 
due to
 
exothermic reaction  with
 
water
 
to
produce
 
calcium hydroxide, possible ingredient in
 
Greek fire
 
and
produces
 
limelightwhen heated over 2,400 °Celsius.