Question

The IUPAC name for the complex compound $Li\left[Al{H}_4\right]$ is:

• A. Lithium aluminium hydride
• B. Hydride aluminium lithium (III)
• C. Lithium tetrahydridoaluminate (III)
• D. Llithium tetrahydridoaluminate (I)

Answer 1

The correct option is C Lithium tetrahydridoaluminate (III)

First we note that the name of the counter ion is lithium now we write the name of the complex ion.

It contains aluminium(III), so it will be called as aluminate(III). Note that we can determine the oxidation number of aluminium by charge balance.

Also it contains 4 $H^{-}$ groups so it will be tetrahydrido. Combining, we get that the name of the negative ion is tetrahydridoaluminate(III).

So, the name of the compound becomes Lithium tetrahydridoaluminate(III).

C is the correct answer.