Problem 71 - Chemistry: The Central Science

Question

Give the name or chemical formula, as appropriate, for each of the following binary molecular substances: (a) \(\mathrm{SF}_{6}\), \((\mathrm{b}) \mathrm{IF}_{5}\), (c) \(\mathrm{XeO}_{3}\), (d) dinitrogen tetroxide, (e) hydrogen cyanide, (f) tetraphosphorus hexasulfide.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

(a) Sulfur hexafluoride, (b) Iodine pentafluoride, (c) Xenon trioxide, (d) \(\mathrm{N}_{2}\mathrm{O}_{4}\), (e) \(\mathrm{HCN}\), (f) \(\mathrm{P}_{4}\mathrm{S}_{6}\)

Step 1: (a) Name of \(\mathrm{SF}_{6}\)

Here, we have two elements: Sulfur (S) and Fluorine (F). Since there are six Fluorine atoms, we'll use the prefix "hexa-" for Fluorine. The name of the compound becomes Sulfur hexafluoride.

Step 2: (b) Name of \(\mathrm{IF}_{5}\)

In this case, we have Iodine (I) and Fluorine (F). Since there are five Fluorine atoms, we'll use the prefix "penta-" for Fluorine. The name of the compound is Iodine pentafluoride.

Step 3: (c) Name of \(\mathrm{XeO}_{3}\)

Here, we have Xenon (Xe) and Oxygen (O). With three Oxygen atoms, we'll use the prefix "tri-" for Oxygen. The compound's name is Xenon trioxide.

Step 4: (d) Chemical formula for dinitrogen tetroxide

In this case, the name reveals the elements and their respective prefixes: - "Di-" refers to two Nitrogen (N) atoms - "Tetra-" refers to four Oxygen (O) atoms The chemical formula is \(\mathrm{N}_{2}\mathrm{O}_{4}\).

Step 5: (e) Chemical formula for hydrogen cyanide

Here, the name tells us the elements involved: - Hydrogen (H) - Cyanide, which is a polyatomic ion containing one Carbon (C) and one Nitrogen (N) atom So, the chemical formula for hydrogen cyanide is \(\mathrm{HCN}\).

Step 6: (f) Chemical formula for tetraphosphorus hexasulfide

In this example, the name reveals the elements and their corresponding prefixes: - "Tetra-" refers to four Phosphorus (P) atoms - "Hexa-" refers to six Sulfur (S) atoms The chemical formula is \(\mathrm{P}_{4}\mathrm{S}_{6}\).

Key Concepts

Binary Molecular Compounds

Binary molecular compounds are composed of two nonmetal elements joined together by covalent bonds, which involve the sharing of electrons. It's like a friendship between atoms sharing their resources. The elements come together to create a stable molecule with distinct physical and chemical properties. A well-known example is carbon dioxide, where carbon and oxygen share electrons to form the compound ( CO_2 ).

Chemical Formulas

Chemical formulas are essential for communicating what a compound contains. Think of them as a recipe that describes the exact proportions of ingredients in a compound. Each element is represented by its chemical symbol, like C for carbon, and numbers are used to show how many atoms of each type are in the compound. The subscripts, those little numbers at the bottom like in 102222 ( H_2O), tell you there are two hydrogen atoms for every one oxygen atom in water.

Prefixes in Chemistry

In chemistry, prefixes are like clues telling us how many of each atom are in a compound. They come from the Greek language and make it possible to describe the composition without confusion. For example, ‘mono-’ means one, ‘di-’ means two, ‘tri-’ is three, and so on. When naming compounds like dinitrogen tetroxide, we understand from the prefix ‘di-’ that there are two nitrogen atoms and from ‘tetra-’ that there are four oxygen atoms. With these little hints, anyone can crack the code of a chemical compound's makeup.

Molecular Substances

Molecular substances consist of molecules bound together by covalent bonds. These molecules are often seen huddling together in a specific structure, forming a variety of substances from gases, like oxygen ( O_2), to liquids such as water ( H_2O), to solid substances like sugar ( C_12H_22O_11). They're like teams of atoms working together, each team with a unique arrangement that determines the substance's properties and behavior.