Question

Each of the following compounds has three possible names listed for it. For each compound, what is the correct name and why aren't the other names used?
a.$N_{2}O$: nitrogen oxide, nitrogen(I) oxide, dinitrogen monoxide
b.$C{u}_{2}O$: copper oxide, copper(l) oxide, dicopper monoxide
c. $L{i}_{2}O$: lithium oxide, lithium(I) oxide, dilithium monoxide

Short answer

According to the ruling of names, the correct name of $N_{2}O$ isDinitrogen monoxide, $C{u}_{2}O$is Copper(l) Oxide, and $L{i}_{2}O$islithium oxide.

Step-by-step solution

Correct name of the molecule N2O and its usage

This compound is binary covalent compound. There is no indication of oxidation state here. The name used as nitrogen (I) oxide should be wrong. Here, it is necessary to use prefix for the indication of atom number which is present in the molecule. Thus, the nitrogen oxide is also wrong. In accordance with naming rule, the correct name is dinitrogen monoxide.

Correct name of the molecule Cu2O and its usage

This is type II ionic binary compound. This contains metal atom which leads to the formation of more than one cation type. The charge of this metal need to be mentioned for this molecule type. Then, the copper oxide is wrong. Dicopper monoxide is also wrong due to the prefix. Prefix should mention only for high electronegative atom not for low electronegative atom. Because of transition metal name contains numeral, the correct name should be Copper (I) oxide.

Correct name of the molecule Li2O and its usage

This is the compound of Type-I binary ionic. Here, the metal will form only one cation type. Metal charge is also not mentioned. So, lithium (I) oxide is also not correct. Prefix should mention only for high electronegative atom not for low electronegative atom. Dilithium monoxide is also wrong. The correct name is Lithium oxide.