Question

Write the formula for each of the following compounds: a. diboron trioxide c. dinitrogen monoxide b. arsenic pentafluoride d. sulfur hexachloride

Short answer

The chemical formulas for the given compounds are: a. diboron trioxide: $B_2{O}_3$ b. arsenic pentafluoride: $As{F}_5$ c. dinitrogen monoxide: $N_{2}O$ d. sulfur hexachloride: $SC{l}_6$

Step-by-step solution

Identify the elements and their chemical symbols

For this compound, we need to identify the chemical symbols for boron and oxygen, which are B and O, respectively.

Count the number of atoms for each element

Diboron trioxide has two boron atoms and three oxygen atoms as given by the name. So the numbers to be used are 2 for boron and 3 for oxygen.

Write the chemical formula

To write the chemical formula, we place the chemical symbols for the elements together with the number of atoms as subscripts. The formula for diboron trioxide is $B_2{O}_3$. b. arsenic pentafluoride

Identify the elements and their chemical symbols

For this compound, we need to identify the chemical symbols for arsenic and fluorine, which are As and F, respectively.

Count the number of atoms for each element

Arsenic pentafluoride has one arsenic atom and five fluorine atoms, which is indicated by the name. So the numbers to be used are 1 for arsenic and 5 for fluorine.

Write the chemical formula

To write the chemical formula, we place the chemical symbols for the elements together with the number of atoms as subscripts. The formula for arsenic pentafluoride is $As{F}_5$. c. dinitrogen monoxide

Identify the elements and their chemical symbols

For this compound, we need to identify the chemical symbols for nitrogen and oxygen, which are N and O, respectively.

Count the number of atoms for each element

Dinitrogen monoxide has two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, which is indicated by the name. So the numbers to be used are 2 for nitrogen and 1 for oxygen.

Write the chemical formula

To write the chemical formula, we place the chemical symbols for the elements together with the number of atoms as subscripts. The formula for dinitrogen monoxide is $N_{2}O$. d. sulfur hexachloride

Identify the elements and their chemical symbols

For this compound, we need to identify the chemical symbols for sulfur and chlorine, which are S and Cl, respectively.

Count the number of atoms for each element

Sulfur hexachloride has one sulfur atom and six chlorine atoms, which is indicated by the name. So the numbers to be used are 1 for sulfur and 6 for chlorine.

Write the chemical formula

To write the chemical formula, we place the chemical symbols for the elements together with the number of atoms as subscripts. The formula for sulfur hexachloride is $SC{l}_6$.

Key concepts

Chemical Nomenclature

Understanding the names of chemical compounds is essential for the study of chemistry. Chemical nomenclature is like the language of chemistry; it's a system of names which is used to communicate about chemical substances. The names provide information about the elements present in a compound and sometimes even their quantities. For example, 'diboron trioxide' indicates a compound of boron and oxygen with the prefix 'di-' meaning two boron atoms and 'tri-' indicating three oxygen atoms. Learning these prefixes and suffixes is crucial, as they are used consistently across inorganic chemistry to inform us about the molecular composition of the substance.

Chemical nomenclature is not arbitrary; it follows specific rules set by organizations such as the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The IUPAC nomenclature provides systematic methods for naming compounds so that each name conveys some information about the molecular structure or composition of the compound. Mastering these naming conventions will greatly aid students in not only understanding what compounds are made of, but also in predicting the composition of compounds from their names.

Molecular Composition

Molecular composition refers to the elements that make up a compound and the number of atoms of each element in one molecule of the compound. This information is often deduced from the chemical formula, which represents the ratio of atoms of the elements in the simplest form. For instance, in 'arsenic pentafluoride', the molecular composition can be directly understood from the name itself – one arsenic atom to five fluorine atoms. Knowing the molecular composition is critical because it defines the substance's properties and how it reacts with other substances. In a chemical formula, this is represented by the symbols of the elements involved, followed by their respective quantities in subscript format.

In addition to conventional naming, sometimes molecular composition can be conveyed through empirical or molecular formulas, highlighting either the simplest whole-number ratio of elements (empirical) or the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule (molecular). Both give deep insight into the makeup of the compound and are foundational concepts in forming reactions and predicting compound behavior.

Chemical Symbols

Chemical symbols are shorthand representations of elements derived from either their English name, Latin name, or some historical roots. Each element on the periodic table has a unique one or two-letter symbol to represent it. For instance, 'B' stands for boron, while 'O' represents oxygen. These symbols serve as the universal language of chemistry across the globe, allowing scientists to communicate chemical information succinctly and precisely.

When reading chemical formulas or equations, these symbols tell us which elements are present. They are the building blocks of the chemical shorthand that is a chemical formula. So, an understanding of these symbols is indispensable for any student of chemistry, as they are used universally within the discipline to describe reactions, properties, and compositions of all known matter.

Subscripts in Chemical Formulas

Subscripts in chemical formulas are small numbers positioned to the bottom right of chemical symbols. These numbers specify the amount of atoms of the element directly before the subscript in one molecule of the compound. If no subscript is written, it is understood that there is just one atom of that element present. For example, the formula for water, H₂O, tells us each water molecule is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (no subscript implies one).

It is important to recognize that subscripts only apply to the symbol they directly follow. In the example of 'sulfur hexachloride', represented as SCl₆, '6' applies solely to chlorine, indicating six atoms of chlorine are present with one atom of sulfur. Misinterpreting subscripts can lead to incorrect representations of compounds, which in turn can result in misunderstandings of its properties and behavior in reactions. Thus, attention to subscripts is essential when writing and interpreting chemical formulas.