- Acids are covalent compounds that release hydrogen ions in water. Their names are determined by specific nomenclature rules.
- There are two categories of acids: binary acids containing hydrogen and one other atom type, and oxy-acids containing hydrogen and a polyatomic ion.
- Binary acids are named with the prefix "hydro-" followed by the other atom's name ending in "-ic". Oxy-acids do not use "hydro-" and change the polyatomic ion's name ending to "-ic".