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I notice that for quite a few elements, oxygen comes before it in alphabetical order. Here is one of the rules in inorganic chemistry for molecular formulas:

Put all the elements in alphabetical order.

So why do oxides always have what is being oxidized followed by oxygen?

That makes some molecular formulas like PO4 for phosphate violate the rule in inorganic chemistry that the elements are arranged in alphabetical order.

I guess all oxides have some element(except for oxygen or fluorine) followed by oxygen because:

1) it clarifies that what you are talking about is an oxide of that element.

and

2) the structure of an oxide is always some element with oxygen atoms around it.

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    $\begingroup$ Oxygen difluoride is OF2. The convention seems to be less electronegative element first which means that O will always be second except with F. $\endgroup$
    – Brinn Belyea
    Aug 2, 2014 at 15:48
  • $\begingroup$ I thought the convention was alphabetical order unless it is a hydrocarbon and if it is a hydrocarbon the C before the H and the H followed by everything else in alphabetical order. $\endgroup$
    – Caters
    Aug 2, 2014 at 17:31

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Generally the least electronegative element is written first. And while naming also, +ide is attached as prefix to the more electronegative element. For Ex- $ICl$ is written as Iodine Chloride not Chlorine Iodide. Similarly $OF_2$ is written as Oxygen Difluoride. Coming back to your question, Oxygen is the second most electronegative element in the periodic table after Fluorine. Therefore it is generally written after all the other elements (except fluorine).

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  • $\begingroup$ I have read that the convention is to use the alphabet rule when writing molecular formulas unless it is organic and then you have CxHy first and then the alphabet rule for everything else. $\endgroup$
    – Caters
    Aug 9, 2014 at 1:44
  • $\begingroup$ You have read correct, organic compound have a complete different nomenclature according to IUPAC, which has nothing to do with compounds like $OF_2$ AND $ICl$. $\endgroup$
    – user2619
    Aug 9, 2014 at 3:05

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