Question

Give the proper formula for each name. a) dioxygen dichloride b) dinitrogen trisulfide c) xenon tetrafluoride

Short answer

a) \(\text{O}_2\text{Cl}_2\), b) \(\text{N}_2\text{S}_3\), c) \(\text{XeF}_4\).

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Chemical Names

Chemical names often provide information about the molecule's composition. For this exercise, it's essential to recognize prefixes like "di-," "tri-," and "tetra-," which indicate the number of atoms in each element of the compound.

Dioxygen Dichloride

The name 'dioxygen' suggests two oxygen atoms, and 'dichloride' indicates two chlorine atoms. Therefore, the molecular formula is \( ext{O}_2 ext{Cl}_2\).

Dinitrogen Trisulfide

The prefix 'di-' refers to two nitrogen atoms, and 'tri-' indicates three sulfur atoms, resulting in the formula \( ext{N}_2 ext{S}_3\).

Xenon Tetrafluoride

'Tetra-' means four, and this prefix is used with 'fluoride,' indicating four fluorine atoms. Therefore, the formula for xenon tetrafluoride is \( ext{XeF}_4\).

Key concepts

Chemical Nomenclature

Chemical nomenclature refers to the standardized system of naming compounds to ensure clarity and consistency in communication among scientists. In inorganic chemistry, names of compounds often indicate key elements and their quantities. For instance, simple binary compounds like the ones in the original exercise have common patterns, such as suffixes like "-ide" which imply an anion. When naming compounds, it helps to recognize root names of non-metallic elements that can bond with a variety of others in different ratios.
In addition to binary compounds, nomenclature includes naming of more complex molecules involving polyatomic ions or organizing them into groups based on common functional groups. These conventions ensure each chemical name maps directly to a unique molecular structure, minimizing ambiguity. Understanding these naming conventions is the foundation of identifying molecular formulas based on given names.

Molecular Composition

Understanding molecular composition involves knowing which atoms make up a molecule and how many of each type there are. The molecular formula conveys this information clearly, such as showing the exact number of atoms of each element. For example, in dioxygen dichloride, the formula \( \text{O}_2\text{Cl}_2 \) reflects that there are two oxygen and two chlorine atoms. Similarly, \( \text{N}_2\text{S}_3 \) indicates two nitrogen and three sulfur atoms, and \( \text{XeF}_4 \) means one xenon and four fluorine atoms.

The clarity of these formulas depends on understanding the atomic composition of molecules through studying their chemical names. This knowledge allows chemists and students to predict properties of compounds and understand how they behave in reactions. The ability to convert names into formulas is a critical skill in chemistry, especially when balancing chemical equations or predicting reaction outcomes.

Prefixes in Chemistry

Prefixes in chemistry are vital for indicating the number of atoms in molecular compounds. They are part of the chemical language used to avoid long and cumbersome descriptions. Common prefixes include:

• "mono-" for one
• "di-" for two
• "tri-" for three
• "tetra-" for four
• Other prefixes can be used for higher numbers like "penta-" for five or "hexa-" for six.

Using these prefixes helps in writing the correct formula for compounds. For example, the term "dinitrogen" tells us there are two nitrogen atoms, and "trisulfide" indicates three sulfur atoms in the compound \( \text{N}_2\text{S}_3 \). "Tetrafluoride" in \( \text{XeF}_4 \) implies four fluorine atoms.

These prefixes are not only used for naming molecules but also in organic chemistry to describe the number and arrangement of atoms within molecules. Mastering these prefixes allows chemists to properly label compounds, thus facilitating effective scientific communication.