Question

Write formulas for the following binary acids: a. hydrofluoric acid b. hydriodic acid

Short answer

(a) HF (b) HI

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the Nomenclature

Binary acids are composed of hydrogen and a nonmetal element. The name of the acid starts with 'hydro-' followed by the base name of the nonmetal, ending with '-ic' and then the word 'acid'.

- Identify the Elements

For each given binary acid, identify the elements involved: (a) Hydrofluoric acid is composed of hydrogen (H) and fluorine (F). (b) Hydriodic acid is composed of hydrogen (H) and iodine (I).

- Write the Chemical Formulas

Combine hydrogen with the respective halogen elements to form the binary acids: (a) Hydrofluoric acid has the formula HF. (b) Hydriodic acid has the formula HI.

Key concepts

nomenclature of acids

When naming binary acids, it is important to understand how the nomenclature works. Binary acids consist of two types of elements: hydrogen and a nonmetal. The name of the binary acid starts with 'hydro-', followed by the root name of the nonmetal element, and ending with '-ic' plus the word 'acid'. For example, hydrofluoric acid and hydriodic acid are two binary acids.
Let's break it down:
- 'Hydro-' indicates the presence of hydrogen.
- The root name of the nonmetal comes next.
- '-ic' is added after the root name of the nonmetal.
- Finally, the word 'acid' completes the name.
This systematic approach helps in identifying the composition of the acid just by looking at the name. By following these steps, students can easily name and identify other binary acids.

chemistry formulas

Writing the chemical formulas for binary acids requires you to know the elements involved and how they combine. For the given examples:
- Hydrofluoric acid: The elements involved are hydrogen (H) and fluorine (F). The chemical formula is written as HF.
- Hydriodic acid: The elements involved are hydrogen (H) and iodine (I). The chemical formula is written as HI.
In binary acids, there is always one hydrogen atom, so the formulas typically look like 'H' followed by the symbol for the nonmetal element. Understanding how to write these formulas helps in representing the actual chemical compounds accurately. Practice writing the formulas for different binary acids to strengthen your grasp of this concept.

binary compounds

Binary compounds are composed of two different elements. In the context of acids, binary compounds consist of hydrogen and a nonmetal. For instance:
- HF (hydrofluoric acid) contains hydrogen and fluorine.
- HI (hydriodic acid) contains hydrogen and iodine.
The process of writing chemical formulas for binary compounds involves:
- Identifying the elements involved.
- Combining them in such a way that hydrogen appears first followed by the nonmetal.
Binary compounds play a significant role in chemistry, as they form the basis for understanding more complex substances. By mastering binary acids, you lay a strong foundation for studying other chemical compounds and reactions.