Question

Give the formula for each compound. dihydrogen oxide

Short answer

The chemical formula for dihydrogen oxide is \(H_2O\).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the elements in the compound

In dihydrogen oxide, there are two elements present: hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O). The prefix "di-" indicates that there are two atoms of hydrogen in the compound.

Identify the proportions of the elements

Since there is no prefix before the oxygen, we assume there is only one atom of oxygen in the compound. Therefore, the proportions of the elements are 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.

Write the formula of dihydrogen oxide

Combining the elements and their proportions in the compound, the chemical formula for dihydrogen oxide is \(H_2O\).

Key concepts

Dihydrogen Oxide

Dihydrogen oxide might sound like a complex chemical, but it's actually a substance we all know well—water. The name 'dihydrogen oxide' refers to the composition of water, with 'di-' meaning two and 'oxide' indicating the presence of oxygen. Hence, dihydrogen oxide consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom.

The simplicity of water's composition belies its importance. As a universal solvent, it plays a crucial role in chemical reactions, biological processes, and sustaining life on our planet. Despite its simple formula, water has unique properties, like having a high boiling point relative to its molecular weight, due to the hydrogen bonding between molecules. Understanding the chemical formula of water is fundamental in grasping various concepts in chemistry.

Compound Naming

The naming of chemical compounds is governed by certain rules that provide a systematic way to identify the composition and structure of the compound. In the case of dihydrogen oxide (water), the name indicates the number of hydrogen atoms (di-) and the presence of oxygen (-oxide).

Prefixes in Naming

Adding to the intricacy, specific prefixes are used to denote the number of atoms of each element within the compound. For instance, 'mono-' is rarely used and is implied when no prefix is present, while 'di-', 'tri-', 'tetra-', etc. indicate two, three, four, and so on. These prefixes help in understanding the proportions of each element.

Beyond Binary Compounds

When dealing with more complex compounds, additional naming conventions come into play, such as using 'ate' or 'ite' for compounds with oxygen and another element. Understanding these naming conventions can significantly aid students in deciphering the components of a chemical substance.

Chemical Notation

Chemical notation is a standardized way of representing the elements and their amounts in a compound. For example, the chemical formula for dihydrogen oxide is expressed as \(H_2O\). This formula conveys that each molecule of water is composed of two hydrogen atoms (indicated by the subscript '2') and one oxygen atom (no subscript is necessary as the default quantity is one).

Subscripts and Coefficients

It's crucial to differentiate between the subscripts and coefficients in chemical formulas. Subscripts describe how many atoms of an element are present in a single molecule of the compound, while coefficients (placed before the compound) indicate how many molecules are involved in a reaction or compound.

Understanding Molecular vs Ionic Compounds

The notation for molecular compounds, like dihydrogen oxide, differs from the notation for ionic compounds, which are composed of charged ions. Ionic compounds are written based on the charge balance between the positive and negative ions, which must equal zero. Mastery of chemical notation is an essential skill for students, it allows them to quickly understand the makeup of compounds and facilitates communication of complex chemical concepts.