So I can't wrap my head around the nomenclature of compounds. Should I just be able to look at a name, such as permanagate, and be able to deduct everything about the compound? Or do I just need to know what "permanagate" is?
I'm having a lot of trouble with with this whole concept. I'll use permanagate as an example.
I understand computers. I can look at something like "
http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?action=post;board=4.0" and know that I am using the HTTP proticol, with the domain
www.chemicalforums.com, accessing a file' called 'index.php' which is a php script, and sending the value 'post' with the name 'action' and the value '4.0' with the name 'board'.
Should I be able to break apart and analyse a compound name such as permanagate in the same way? Or am I suppoed to know (memorize) that "permanagate" is chemistry talk for MnO
42-.
I can take the manganate from the name, how am I supped to know about the four oxygen atoms? Or the charge?
"per" = "?" , "manga" = "manganese" , "ate" = "something to do with ions, and the number 4?"
This is not the only concept in chemistry I am having trouble with. I try to follow the lecture, and read the text, but I feel like there is some fundamental piece of the puzzle missing, and don't even know where to start looking. I feel like the teacher and the text are assuming I know and understand some fundamental concept of chemistry that has not been mentioned. I feel like I am being thought to spell words in a Slavic language. It's kind of depressing, I'm usually good at understanding complex things.