Question

What is the common name of the compound $CaC{l}_2$?

Answer 1

Hint: Every chemical compound has a particular name which is accepted and approved by IUPAC. However, the common name of the compound may vary from place to place but the chemical name of the compound remains the same. Basic rule of naming covalent and ionic compounds is different.

Complete answer:
The process of assigning a particular chemical name is done by IUPAC to avoid the confusion and error in name depending upon various place and language therefore chemical names of compounds need to be very specific in nature. As we know that calcium chloride is formed by transfer of electrons from calcium metal and accepted by chlorine atoms. Due to complete transfer of electrons between metal atoms and non-metal atoms, $CaC{l}_2$ is considered an ionic compound. Electronic configuration of calcium is $\left[Ar\right]4s^2$ While electronic configuration of chlorine atom is $\left[Ne\right]3s^{2}3p^5$. In order to attain calcium stability, one needs to donate both of its valence electrons to two chlorine atoms to form a stable ionic compound.
Naming of ionic compound should include some basic rule like
Always write the name of metal in starting
Write the non-metal name at the end
Add the suffix “ide” at the end of the name of non-metal.
Numerical digits show the number of atoms of a particular compound but it should not be mentioned in chemical names.
In the case of $CaC{l}_2$ metal present in the molecule is calcium while chlorine is non-metal. So, after following the rules mentioned above, the name of $CaC{l}_2$ is calcium chloride.
$\Rightarrow$ Common name of the compound $CaC{l}_2$ is calcium chloride.

Note:
In a case of compound with same atoms in different number, we add roman number in chemical name to solve this problem for example, chemical name of $FeC{l}_2$ and $FeC{l}_3$ are expressed as iron $\left(II\right)$ chloride and iron $\left(III\right)$ chloride respectively. Suffix $\left(-di\right)$, $\left(-tri\right)$ are used to express number of atom in case of covalent compound like carbon tetrachloride $CC{l}_4$.