Question

Name each of the binary covalent compounds listed below. \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\)

Short answer

The name of the binary covalent compound \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) is carbon dioxide.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the elements in the compound

In the given chemical formula \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\), we have two elements: carbon (C) and oxygen (O).

Determine the number of atoms for each element

From the formula, we can see that there is 1 carbon atom and 2 oxygen atoms.

Assign prefixes to indicate the number of atoms

For the first element, if there is only one atom, no prefix is used. For the second element, we use "di-" to indicate that there are two atoms. The prefixes for 1 to 2 atoms are as follows: 1: (none) 2: di-

Combine the elements with their prefixes and add the suffix "-ide" to the second element

The first element is carbon, and since there is only one carbon atom in the compound, we won't use a prefix. The second element is oxygen, and since there are two of them, we use the prefix "di-" and add the suffix "-ide": dioxide. Now combine them to create the compound name: carbon dioxide.

Final Answer

The name of the binary covalent compound \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) is carbon dioxide.

Key concepts

Chemical Nomenclature

Chemical nomenclature is like learning the rules and structure of a new language. It's the system used for naming substances in chemistry. When naming a binary covalent compound, which is a compound composed of two non-metal elements, we use specific naming conventions. This systematic method allows chemists worldwide to understand the composition of a compound just by its name. For binary covalent compounds, these conventions provide a clear understanding of both the elements involved and the number of atoms of each element.

In chemical nomenclature, prefixes such as "mono-", "di-", "tri-", help indicate the number of atoms in the compound, while suffixes like "-ide" show which element is secondary in the compound. This system is globally standardized by organizations like IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry), ensuring that the compounds' names are universally understood.

Chemical Formulas

Chemical formulas represent the ratio and types of atoms found in a compound. For binary covalent compounds, the formula shows which two non-metals are present, as well as their respective quantities. Take \( \mathrm{CO}_2 \) as an example. This chemical formula tells us that the compound consists of one carbon (C) atom and two oxygen (O) atoms.

Knowing how to interpret these formulas is key to understanding the nature of the substance. It offers a compact way to convey complex information, which is especially useful in the fields of chemistry and material science.

When dealing with binary covalent compounds, the order of elements is important too. Typically, as in \( \mathrm{CO}_2 \), the element that is further to the left on the periodic table is listed first, whereas the second element's name is modified to end in "-ide" to reflect its status as a component part of the compound.

Naming Compounds

Naming compounds, especially binary covalent compounds, follows some key guidelines. The process largely involves translating the chemical formula into a verbal description of the compound. This requires an understanding of both the components present (the elements) and the number of each type of atom involved.

Consider the binary covalent compound \( \mathrm{CO}_2 \). This compound is named coming from the elements' names and the use of correct prefixes. Step by step, you first name the element farthest left on the periodic table (or the lower one if they're in the same group), here it's carbon, with no prefix applied because there’s only one atom.

Next, you move to the oxygen, the number of which is indicated by the prefix "di-", making oxygen become "dioxide". The result is the neatly comprehensive name "carbon dioxide". By learning these naming conventions, you can quickly and accurately describe any binary covalent compound.