Chapter 2: Problem 63
What is the difference between a binary compound and one that is diatomic? Give examples that illustrate this difference.
Short Answer
Expert verified
A binary compound consists of two different elements, like NaCl, while a diatomic molecule consists of two atoms, which can be the same element, like O2, or different, like HCl. Thus, some diatomic molecules are binary compounds, but not all binary compounds are diatomic molecules.
Step by step solution
01
Define Binary Compound
A binary compound is a chemical compound that contains exactly two different elements. Examples of binary compounds include sodium chloride (NaCl), which is made up of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl), and carbon dioxide (CO2), which is made up of carbon (C) and oxygen (O).
02
Define Diatomic Molecule
A diatomic molecule is a molecule that is composed of only two atoms, which may or may not be the same element. Examples of diatomic molecules include hydrogen (H2), oxygen (O2), and nitrogen (N2), which all consist of two atoms of the same element, and hydrogen chloride (HCl), which consists of hydrogen and chlorine atoms.
03
Explain the Difference
The difference between a binary compound and a diatomic molecule is that a diatomic molecule refers specifically to a molecule made up of two atoms, which can be either the same or different elements. In contrast, a binary compound must contain two different elements. Therefore, while all diatomic molecules made of two different elements are also binary compounds, not all binary compounds are diatomic molecules as they can be made up of molecules with more than two atoms.
04
Illustrate with Examples
To illustrate the difference, consider hydrogen gas (H2) and hydrogen chloride (HCl). Hydrogen gas is a diatomic molecule because it consists of two hydrogen atoms and is not a binary compound because it does not contain two different elements. Hydrogen chloride, however, is both a diatomic molecule (because it's composed of two atoms) and a binary compound (because it contains hydrogen and chlorine, two different elements).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Chemical Compounds
Imagine a world where elements, those basic substances that cannot be chemically broken down into simpler substances, join hands and combine in various ways. This is the world of chemical compounds. A chemical compound can be thought of as a unique substance formed when two or more elements undergo a chemical combination. Each compound has a fixed ratio of its constituent elements, governed by the laws of chemistry.
One can envision compounds as distinct entities that possess their own set of properties, different from the elements that form them. Through chemical reactions, compounds can also be transformed into new compounds or broken down into their elemental parts. An example to encapsulate this concept is water (H2O), composed of hydrogen and oxygen in a 2:1 ratio. Not only is the composition of water fixed, but its properties - such as boiling point, surface tension and taste - are distinct from those of hydrogen and oxygen.
Understanding the nature of chemical compounds is crucial as it helps students grasp how elements combine and interact in specific ratios to produce the diverse range of materials we encounter in the world. To elaborate further, binary compounds, like sodium chloride (NaCl), are a subgroup of chemical compounds that consist precisely of two elements. They are the building blocks of much of the material world and have vast implications in the field of chemistry and beyond.
One can envision compounds as distinct entities that possess their own set of properties, different from the elements that form them. Through chemical reactions, compounds can also be transformed into new compounds or broken down into their elemental parts. An example to encapsulate this concept is water (H2O), composed of hydrogen and oxygen in a 2:1 ratio. Not only is the composition of water fixed, but its properties - such as boiling point, surface tension and taste - are distinct from those of hydrogen and oxygen.
Understanding the nature of chemical compounds is crucial as it helps students grasp how elements combine and interact in specific ratios to produce the diverse range of materials we encounter in the world. To elaborate further, binary compounds, like sodium chloride (NaCl), are a subgroup of chemical compounds that consist precisely of two elements. They are the building blocks of much of the material world and have vast implications in the field of chemistry and beyond.
Atoms and Elements
The building blocks of matter are known as atoms. At their center, they harbor nuclei made of protons and neutrons, with electrons zipping around in orbits. Each atom is a representative of an element, a basic form of matter that cannot be simplified or converted into anything else by ordinary chemical means.
Elements are defined by the number of protons in their nuclei, known as the atomic number. This fundamental identifier means that every atom of oxygen has 8 protons, while each atom of carbon carries 6 protons, for instance. These individual forms of matter are listed in the periodic table, a systematic layout that categorizes the elements based on their atomic properties and similarities.
In the context of our discussion, it's important to note that when atoms of different elements combine chemically, they form compounds. Nonetheless, there are special cases, like diatomic molecules (e.g., O2, N2), where atoms of the same element combine to form a significant and stable type of molecule. This diversity in how atoms can bind showcases the richness and complexity inherent in the study of chemistry. The vast majority of substances we interact with daily are composed of these atoms and elements in various combinations, making them fundamental concepts for students to understand.
Elements are defined by the number of protons in their nuclei, known as the atomic number. This fundamental identifier means that every atom of oxygen has 8 protons, while each atom of carbon carries 6 protons, for instance. These individual forms of matter are listed in the periodic table, a systematic layout that categorizes the elements based on their atomic properties and similarities.
In the context of our discussion, it's important to note that when atoms of different elements combine chemically, they form compounds. Nonetheless, there are special cases, like diatomic molecules (e.g., O2, N2), where atoms of the same element combine to form a significant and stable type of molecule. This diversity in how atoms can bind showcases the richness and complexity inherent in the study of chemistry. The vast majority of substances we interact with daily are composed of these atoms and elements in various combinations, making them fundamental concepts for students to understand.
Molecular Composition
Diving deeper into the realm of molecules, we find that the molecular composition of a substance reveals the number and types of atoms that make up that molecule. It's essentially a molecular roll call, identifying each participant atom and the bonds they form with one another.
The molecular formula gives us a snapshot, a numerical representation of the atomic lineup within a molecule. For instance, carbon dioxide's molecular formula is CO2. This tells us that for every single carbon atom in a molecule of carbon dioxide, there are two oxygen atoms joined to it. These numbers can indicate the stoichiometry of a compound, which in turn can inform us about its chemical behavior and how it will interact in reactions.
Molecular composition takes on added significance when discussing the difference between binary compounds and diatomic molecules. For binary compounds, you see a diverse gallery of possible structures with varying numbers of atoms, but always with two types of elements. In contrast, diatomic molecules are always auditioning the same number of players, specifically two atoms, which can be identical or different. In the educational setting, clarifying the molecular composition helps students visualize and better understand the makeup of substances and the intricate dance of atoms that occurs within chemical reactions.
The molecular formula gives us a snapshot, a numerical representation of the atomic lineup within a molecule. For instance, carbon dioxide's molecular formula is CO2. This tells us that for every single carbon atom in a molecule of carbon dioxide, there are two oxygen atoms joined to it. These numbers can indicate the stoichiometry of a compound, which in turn can inform us about its chemical behavior and how it will interact in reactions.
Molecular composition takes on added significance when discussing the difference between binary compounds and diatomic molecules. For binary compounds, you see a diverse gallery of possible structures with varying numbers of atoms, but always with two types of elements. In contrast, diatomic molecules are always auditioning the same number of players, specifically two atoms, which can be identical or different. In the educational setting, clarifying the molecular composition helps students visualize and better understand the makeup of substances and the intricate dance of atoms that occurs within chemical reactions.
