Binary compounds consist of two different elements. These compounds can be either ionic or molecular, but our focus here is on binary molecular compounds. Learning to name binary molecular compounds involves recognizing the number and type of each atom in the compound.
To identify binary compounds, remember these key points:
- They contain exactly two different elements.
- It's important to know the chemical symbols for those elements.
- The first element in the name is typically the one that is less electronegative.
By understanding these basics, naming compounds like \(\ring{PBr}_3\) and \(\ring{SiO}_2\) becomes straightforward.