Question

What elements are present in each compound? (a) magnesium bromide \(\mathrm{MgBr}_{2}\) (b) carbon tetrachloride \(\mathrm{CCl}_{4}\) (c) nitric acid \(\mathrm{HNO}_{3}\) (d) barium sulfate \(\mathrm{BaSO}_{4}\) (e) aluminum phosphate \(\mathrm{AIPO}_{4}\)

Short answer

(a) Magnesium, bromine. (b) Carbon, chlorine. (c) Hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen. (d) Barium, sulfur, oxygen. (e) Aluminum, phosphorus, oxygen.

Step-by-step solution

Identify elements in magnesium bromide

Magnesium bromide is \(\text{MgBr}_{2}\). Identify the symbols: Mg stands for magnesium, and Br stands for bromine. Therefore, the elements present in magnesium bromide are magnesium and bromine.

Identify elements in carbon tetrachloride

Carbon tetrachloride is \(\text{CCl}_{4}\). The symbols \(\text{C}\) and \(\text{Cl}\) stand for carbon and chlorine, respectively. Thus, the elements present are carbon and chlorine.

Identify elements in nitric acid

Nitric acid is \(\text{HNO}_{3}\). The symbols \(\text{H}\), \(\text{N}\), and \(\text{O}\) represent hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, respectively. Hence, the elements present are hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.

Identify elements in barium sulfate

Barium sulfate is \(\text{BaSO}_{4}\). The symbols \(\text{Ba}\), \(\text{S}\), and \(\text{O}\) stand for barium, sulfur, and oxygen, respectively. Therefore, the elements present are barium, sulfur, and oxygen.

Identify elements in aluminum phosphate

Aluminum phosphate is \(\text{AlPO}_{4}\). The symbols \(\text{Al}\), \(\text{P}\), and \(\text{O}\) represent aluminum, phosphorus, and oxygen, respectively. Thus, the elements present are aluminum, phosphorus, and oxygen.

Key concepts

Chemical Symbols

Chemical symbols are short notations representing chemical elements. These symbols are usually derived from the element's name, often from its Latin name, and consist of one or two letters. The first letter is always capitalized, while a second letter, if present, is lowercase. For example, Magnesium is represented by 'Mg', and Bromine by 'Br'. Learning these symbols is foundational in chemistry because they simplify the representation and communication of compounds.

• Mg = Magnesium
• Br = Bromine
• C = Carbon
• Cl = Chlorine

It's essential to familiarize yourself with these symbols to easily identify elements within chemical formulas and equations.

Compound Composition

Understanding compound composition means recognizing the elements that make up a compound and their respective ratios. In a chemical formula, the subscript following an element’s symbol indicates the number of atoms of that element in the compound. For instance, in \(\text{MgBr}_{2}\), there are two Bromine (Br) atoms for every one Magnesium (Mg) atom.

Let’s break down some examples:

• \(\text{CCl}_{4}\) – This compound consists of one carbon (C) atom and four chlorine (Cl) atoms.
• \(\text{HNO}_{3}\) – This compound has one hydrogen (H) atom, one nitrogen (N), and three oxygen (O) atoms.
• \(\text{BaSO}_{4}\) – This represents one barium (Ba) atom, one sulfur (S) atom, and four oxygen (O) atoms.
• \(\text{AlPO}_{4}\) – Contains one aluminum (Al) atom, one phosphorus (P), and four oxygen (O) atoms.

Knowing how to read these formulas helps in understanding the nature and properties of the compounds.

Basic Chemistry Education

Basic chemistry education lays the groundwork for understanding more complex chemical concepts and reactions. To grasp the essentials, it’s crucial to understand:

• Elements and Atoms: Elements are pure substances consisting of only one type of atom. Each element has unique properties and is represented by a chemical symbol.
• Compounds: Compounds are substances formed when two or more elements chemically bond in fixed proportions. They are represented by chemical formulas which show the elements involved and their ratios.

Practical examples and exercises, like identifying elements in various compounds, strengthen your foundational knowledge and prepare you for more advanced topics in chemistry. By mastering these basics, you’ll be better equipped to understand the behavior and interaction of different substances in chemical reactions.