Question

Write formulas for the following compounds: (a) Silicon tetrachloride (b) Sodium hydride (c) Antimony pentafluoride (d) Osmium tetroxide

Short answer

(a) \( \text{SiCl}_4 \); (b) \( \text{NaH} \); (c) \( \text{SbF}_5 \); (d) \( \text{OsO}_4 \).

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the Name

The compound is Silicon Tetrachloride. "Tetra" indicates four, and "chloride" suggests the presence of chlorine (Cl). Silicon (Si) is the other element present.

Write the Formula for Silicon Tetrachloride

Silicon (Si) combines with four chlorine atoms. Thus, the formula is \( \text{SiCl}_4 \).

Analyze the Name

The compound is Sodium Hydride. "Hydride" refers to hydrogen (H) with a negative charge (H\(^-\)) and "sodium" is Na.

Write the Formula for Sodium Hydride

Sodium (Na) has a charge of +1 and hydride (H) has a charge of -1. They combine in a 1:1 ratio, forming \( \text{NaH} \).

Analyze the Name

The compound is Antimony Pentafluoride. "Penta" means five, and "fluoride" refers to fluorine (F). Antimony is represented as Sb.

Write the Formula for Antimony Pentafluoride

Antimony (Sb) combines with five fluorine atoms, giving the formula \( \text{SbF}_5 \).

Analyze the Name

The compound is Osmium Tetroxide. "Tetra" indicates four, and "oxide" refers to oxygen (O). Osmium is denoted by Os.

Write the Formula for Osmium Tetroxide

Osmium (Os) combines with four oxygen atoms, resulting in the formula \( \text{OsO}_4 \).

Key concepts

Inorganic Compounds

Inorganic compounds are substances that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, unlike organic compounds. These compounds are typically formed from elements other than carbon and often possess distinct properties that differentiate them from their organic counterparts. Many inorganic compounds are formed by the combination of metals with nonmetals. For example:

• Silicon tetrachloride, Sodium hydride, Antimony pentafluoride, and Osmium tetroxide, are formed by combining elements such as chlorine, hydrogen, fluorine, and oxygen with other elements like silicon, sodium, antimony, and osmium, respectively.

Inorganic chemistry plays a key role in various industries, including agriculture, electronics, and materials science, because many products involve inorganic compounds in their compositions and processes. Understanding inorganic compounds requires knowledge of basic principles such as electronegativity, oxidation states, and ionic versus covalent bonding. These principles help predict how elements will combine to form stable compounds.

Naming Conventions

Naming conventions in chemistry are standardized rules used to ensure that the name of any chemical compound is clear and consistent. These rules help chemists around the world communicate effectively without ambiguity. The naming convention for inorganic compounds often employs prefixes and suffixes to convey important information about the compound's structure and composition:

• Prefixes such as "tetra-" and "penta-" indicate the number of atoms of a particular element present in the compound. For instance, "tetra-" in silicon tetrachloride means four chlorine atoms are bonded to silicon.
• “Hydride" typically signifies the presence of hydrogen anion, indicating the presence of a negative charge associated with hydrogen.
• "Fluoride" and "oxide" indicate that the compound contains fluoride or oxide ions, respectively.

These naming rules are guided by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) system, which is widely used to provide systematic and easily interpretable names for chemical compounds.

Molecular Composition

Molecular composition refers to the kind and number of atoms that make up a molecule of a chemical compound. An understanding of molecular composition is crucial, as it directly affects the properties and reactivity of the compound.Each element in a chemical formula is represented by its chemical symbol. This symbol is accompanied by a subscript number, showing how many atoms of that element are present in one molecule of the compound:

• For Silicon tetrachloride (\( ext{SiCl}_4\)), the molecular composition consists of one silicon (Si) atom and four chlorine (Cl) atoms.
• Sodium hydride (\( ext{NaH}\)) is composed of one sodium (Na) atom and one hydrogen (H) atom.
• Antimony pentafluoride (\( ext{SbF}_5\)) includes one antimony (Sb) atom and five fluorine (F) atoms.
• Osmium tetroxide (\( ext{OsO}_4\)) comprises a single osmium (Os) atom and four oxygen (O) atoms.

Each molecule's specific arrangement affects the compound's physical and chemical properties, influencing how it interacts in chemical reactions. By learning the molecular composition, one gains insight into the potential behavior and uses of a compound.

Chemical Nomenclature

Chemical nomenclature is the systematic method of naming chemical substances. It is aimed at providing a unique and clear name for each compound, which is important for accurately identifying substances in scientific communities and industries. The process involves a set of specific guidelines and conventions that take into account factors such as the type of elements involved and their respective quantities. Among the key aspects of chemical nomenclature are:

• The use of prefixes such as "mono-", "di-", "tri-", and so on, to show how many atoms of each element are present.
• Specific endings, like "-ide" for binary compounds that consist of two elements, to indicate the type of compound involved.
• Neutral compounds typically follow the "cation first and anion last" format, such as in sodium hydride, where sodium comes before hydride.

Mastering chemical nomenclature enables clear communication and ensures that compound names are universally understood. This standardization is critical in scientific research, pedagogy, and across industries, permitting consistent reference and discussion of chemical compounds.