Question

Give the chemical formula for (a) carbonic acid, (b) sodium cyanide, (c) potassium hydrogen carbonate, (d) acetylene.

Short answer

The chemical formula for (a) carbonic acid is \(H_2CO_3\), (b) sodium cyanide is \(NaCN\), (c) potassium hydrogen carbonate is \(KHCO_3\), and (d) acetylene is \(C_2H_2\).

Step-by-step solution

(a) Carbonic acid

Carbonic acid is composed of the elements hydrogen (H), carbon (C), and oxygen (O). The chemical symbols for hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen are H, C, and O, respectively. Carbonic acid is formed when one carbon atom binds with two oxygen atoms and two hydrogen atoms. In this case, the chemical formula is H₂CO₃.

(b) Sodium cyanide

Sodium cyanide is composed of the elements sodium (Na) and the cyanide ion (CN). The chemical symbols for sodium and cyanide are Na and CN, respectively. Sodium cyanide is formed when one sodium atom binds with one cyanide ion. In this case, the chemical formula is NaCN.

(c) Potassium hydrogen carbonate

Potassium hydrogen carbonate is composed of the elements potassium (K), hydrogen (H), carbon (C), and oxygen (O). The chemical symbols for potassium, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen are K, H, C, and O, respectively. Potassium hydrogen carbonate is formed when one potassium atom, one hydrogen atom, one carbon atom, and three oxygen atoms bind together. In this case, the chemical formula is KHCO₃.

(d) Acetylene

Acetylene is composed of the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). The chemical symbols for carbon and hydrogen are C and H, respectively. Acetylene is formed when two carbon atoms bind together with a triple bond, and each carbon atom also binds to a single hydrogen atom. In this case, the chemical formula is C₂H₂.