Question

Write the formula for each of the following binary compounds of nonmetallic elements. a. sulfur dioxide b. dinitrogen monoxide c. xenon tetrafluoride d. tetraphosphorus decoxide e. phosphorus pentachloride f. sulfur hexafluoride g. nitrogen dioxide

Short answer

a. SO_2 b. N_2O c. XeF_4 d. P_4O_10 e. PCl_5 f. SF_6 g. NO_2

Step-by-step solution

a. sulfur dioxide

We have sulfur (S) and oxygen (O) in the compound, and the "di" prefix indicates that there are two oxygen atoms. Therefore, the formula for sulfur dioxide is: SO_2

b. dinitrogen monoxide

In this compound, there are nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) elements, and the prefix "di" means two nitrogen atoms, and "mono" means one oxygen atom. So, the formula for dinitrogen monoxide is: N_2O

c. xenon tetrafluoride

The elements in this compound are xenon (Xe) and fluorine (F), and the prefix "tetra" denotes that there are four fluorine atoms in the compound. Therefore, the formula for xenon tetrafluoride is: XeF_4

d. tetraphosphorus decoxide

This compound consists of phosphorus (P) and oxygen (O), and the prefixes "tetra" and "deca" mean that we have four phosphorus atoms and ten oxygen atoms, respectively. Thus, the formula for tetraphosphorus decoxide is: P_4O_10

e. phosphorus pentachloride

For this compound, we have phosphorus (P) and chlorine (Cl) elements, and the prefix "penta" indicates that there are five chlorine atoms. So, the formula for phosphorus pentachloride is: PCl_5

f. sulfur hexafluoride

In this compound, there are sulfur (S) and fluorine (F) elements. The prefix "hexa" denotes that we have six fluorine atoms. Therefore, the formula for sulfur hexafluoride is: SF_6

g. nitrogen dioxide

The elements in this compound are nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O), and the "di" prefix refers to two oxygen atoms. Thus, the formula for nitrogen dioxide is: NO_2