Question

Name each of the following compounds: a. \(\mathrm{BCl}_{3}\) b. \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) c. \(\mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}\)

Short answer

a. Boron Trichloride, b. Carbon Dioxide, c. Dinitrogen Monoxide

Step-by-step solution

Naming BCl3

Identify the first element (Boron) and the second element (Chlorine) in the chemical formula. Since there is only one Boron atom, we do not use any prefixes. The second element, Chlorine, gets the '-ide' ending, and because there are three Chlorine atoms, we use the prefix 'tri-' for three. The compound name is Boron Trichloride.

Naming CO2

Recognize the first element (Carbon) and the second element (Oxygen) in the chemical formula. With only one Carbon atom, no prefix is needed. There are two Oxygen atoms, hence we use the prefix 'di-' for two. The second element also gets the '-ide' ending. The compound name is Carbon Dioxide.

Naming N2O

Identify the two elements: Nitrogen and Oxygen in the chemical formula. There are two Nitrogen atoms, so we use the prefix 'di-' for two. For the single Oxygen atom, no prefix is necessary. Since Oxygen is the second element, it gets the '-ide' ending. However, when multiple prefixes are in a name, we drop the a/o at the end of a prefix if the element name begins with a vowel. The compound name is Dinitrogen Monoxide.

Key concepts

Chemical Nomenclature

Understanding chemical nomenclature is essential for students to accurately identify and discuss substances. Nomenclature, in the context of chemistry, refers to the standardized system for naming chemical compounds. The rules of chemical nomenclature are outlined by IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) which ensures that scientists around the world can communicate with clarity and precision.

When it comes to naming simple molecular compounds, the first component mentioned is usually a nonmetal or metalloid element. It retains its elemental name if only one atom is present, and no prefix is necessary. If more than one atom is present, a prefix indicating the quantity is added. The second element's name is modified to end with '-ide', similar to how we change 'chlorine' to 'chloride' in a compound like BCl3, which, as per our exercise solution, is named Boron Trichloride.

Molecular Compounds

Molecular compounds are composed of atoms from two or more different elements that are held together by covalent bonds. These bonds occur when atoms share electrons, providing a stable balance of attractive and repulsive forces between atoms. Such compounds are often formed between nonmetal elements.

In our exercise solutions, CO2 and N2O are examples of molecular compounds. Each molecule of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) consists of one carbon atom covalently bonded to two oxygen atoms. In Dinitrogen Monoxide (N2O), two nitrogen atoms are bonded to one oxygen atom. The compositions, as well as the properties of molecular compounds, are dictated by the precise arrangement and number of bonded atoms, which is why understanding and naming them correctly is of utmost importance.

Prefixes in Chemistry

Prefixes play a crucial role in the field of chemistry, as they help convey the number of atoms of each element present in a compound. In chemical nomenclature, specific prefixes denote the number of atoms:

• mono- (1)
• di- (2)
• tri- (3)
• tetra- (4)
• penta- (5)
• hexa- (6)
• hepta- (7)
• octa- (8)
• nona- (9)
• deca- (10)

These prefixes are placed before the element names in molecular compounds. When the compound has only one atom of the first element, the prefix 'mono-' is often omitted for conciseness, as seen in Carbon Dioxide rather than monocarbon dioxide. An important point to remember, as highlighted in the solution for N2O, is the adjustment of prefixes when they precede elements that start with a vowel; for clarity, we drop the ending vowel of the prefix. Hence, Dinitrogen Monoxide, not Dinitrogen Oxide.