How do you name a compound in chemistry?

Naming compounds in chemistry may seem daunting, but it's all about following a few simple rules. For ionic compounds, the name of the metal comes first, followed by the name of the non-metal with an "-ide" ending. In covalent compounds, use prefixes to indicate the number of each element present, and the second element's name ends in "-ide." For example, NaCl is sodium chloride, and CO2 is carbon dioxide. With practice, naming compounds will become second nature.