What type of elements form a molecular (covalent) compound?
Two or more nonmetal elements that are joined by covalent bonds.
What is the general rule for naming a binary molecular compound?
1. The first element is named using its full name.
2. The second element is named using its root and the '-ide' suffix.
3. Greek prefixes are used to indicate the number of atoms of each element.
What are the Greek prefixes for the numbers \(1\) through \(10\)?
When is the prefix 'mono-' omitted in naming molecular compounds?
The prefix 'mono-' is always omitted for the first element in the name. For example, \(CO\) is carbon monoxide, not monocarbon monoxide.
What special rule applies to prefixes ending in 'a' or 'o' when the element name begins with a vowel?
The final 'a' or 'o' of the prefix is usually dropped. For example, 'tetraoxide' becomes 'tetroxide' and 'monooxide' becomes 'monoxide'.
Name the compound \(CO\).
Carbon monoxide
Name the compound \(CO_2\).
Carbon dioxide
Name the compound \(N_2O_4\).
Dinitrogen tetroxide (the 'a' in 'tetra' is dropped before 'oxide').
Name the compound \(PCl_5\).
Phosphorus pentachloride
Name the compound \(SF_6\).
Sulfur hexafluoride
Name the compound \(H_2O\).
While its systematic name is dihydrogen monoxide, it is almost always referred to by its common name, water.
Name the compound \(NH_3\).
While its systematic name is nitrogen trihydride, it is universally known by its common name, ammonia.
What is the chemical formula for carbon tetrachloride?
$$ CCl_4 $$
What is the chemical formula for disulfur decafluoride?
$$ S_2F_{10} $$
What is the chemical formula for dinitrogen pentoxide?
$$ N_2O_5 $$
Why is \(MgCl_2\) named magnesium chloride, while \(SCl_2\) is named sulfur dichloride?
\(MgCl_2\) is an ionic compound (metal + nonmetal), which does not use prefixes. \(SCl_2\) is a molecular compound (nonmetal + nonmetal), which requires prefixes.
