Question

Name each of the following binary compounds, using the periodic table to determine whether the compound is likely to be ionic (containing a metal or a nonmetal) or nonionic (containing only nonmetals). a. \(\mathrm{RaCl}_{2}\) b. \(\mathrm{SeCl}_{2}\) c. \(\mathrm{PCl}_{3}\) d. \(\mathrm{Na}_{3} \mathrm{P}\) e. \(\mathrm{MnF}_{2}\) f. \(\mathrm{ZnO}\)

Short answer

The given compounds are as follows: a. Radium Chloride (ionic) b. Selenium Dichloride (nonionic) c. Phosphorus Trichloride (nonionic) d. Sodium Phosphide (ionic) e. Manganese Fluoride (ionic) f. Zinc Oxide (ionic)

Step-by-step solution

Recall how to determine ionic and nonionic compounds

Ionic compounds are made up of metals and nonmetals, while nonionic compounds contain only nonmetals. To identify if a compound is ionic or nonionic, we will first locate the elements in the periodic table.

Identify and name the given compounds:

For each compound, determine the type (ionic or nonionic) and its name using the periodic table. a. \(\mathrm{RaCl}_{2}\) Radium (Ra) is a metal and Chlorine (Cl) is a nonmetal, so this is an ionic compound. Name: Radium Chloride b. \(\mathrm{SeCl}_{2}\) Selenium (Se) and Chlorine (Cl) are both nonmetals, so this is a nonionic compound. Name: Selenium Dichloride c. \(\mathrm{PCl}_{3}\) Phosphorus (P) and Chlorine (Cl) are both nonmetals, so this is a nonionic compound. Name: Phosphorus Trichloride d. \(\mathrm{Na}_{3} \mathrm{P}\) Sodium (Na) is a metal and Phosphorus (P) is a nonmetal, so this is an ionic compound. Name: Sodium Phosphide e. \(\mathrm{MnF}_{2}\) Manganese (Mn) is a metal and Fluorine (F) is a nonmetal, so this is an ionic compound. Name: Manganese Fluoride f. \(\mathrm{ZnO}\) Zinc (Zn) is a metal and Oxygen (O) is a nonmetal, so this is an ionic compound. Name: Zinc Oxide

Key concepts

Ionic and Nonionic Compounds

To build a deep understanding of chemical compounds, it is essential to recognize the difference between ionic and nonionic compounds. Ionic compounds consist of a metal and a nonmetal, forming charged particles, ions, held together with ionic bonds. These bonds are the result of the metal losing electrons to become positively charged cations and the nonmetal gaining those electrons to form negatively charged anions.

On the other hand, nonionic compounds, also known as molecular compounds, are composed only of nonmetals. These elements share electrons rather than transfer them, forming covalent bonds. The naming of nonionic compounds involves prefixes to indicate the number of atoms of each element present in the compound, such as 'di-' for two and 'tri-' for three.

For example, in the exercise,\(\text{SeCl}_{2}\) is a nonionic compound named Selenium Dichloride, indicating the presence of one selenium atom and two chlorine atoms. Understanding the composition of these compounds aids in predicting their properties, such as melting points, boiling points, and electrical conductivity, which differ significantly between ionic and nonionic compounds.

Periodic Table

The periodic table is not just a chart but a powerful tool for chemists to understand and predict the properties of elements. It classifies elements based on increasing atomic numbers and groups them into periods and groups, reflecting their chemical properties and reactivity. The left side of the table predominantly features metals, while the right side lists nonmetals, with metalloids lying on the dividing line between them.

When analyzing a compound, such as \(\text{MnF}_{2}\) from the given exercise, one can find Manganese (Mn) on the left side, revealing its metallic nature, and Fluoride (F) on the right, indicating it's a nonmetal. The periodic table thus facilitates the determination of compound types (ionic or nonionic) and serves as a guide for naming compounds based on the elements involved.

Chemical Nomenclature

Chemical nomenclature is the standardized system for naming chemical substances. It is crucial for clear communication in the scientific community, ensuring that each name unambiguously refers to a specific compound. Ionic compounds typically follow the naming convention where the metal's name comes first, followed by the nonmetal with an '-ide' suffix. If the metal has multiple ionic forms, Roman numerals are used to indicate its charge.

For nonionic compounds, numerical prefixes are used to denote the number of atoms of each element if there is more than one of any nonmetal present. For instance, 'mono-' is often omitted for the first element and utilized for the second if necessary. Returning to our exercise, we have \(\text{ZnO}\), which is called Zinc Oxide; no prefixes are needed here, as the formula implies just one atom of each element.

• One Atom: Mono- (often omitted for the first element)
• Two Atoms: Di-
• Three Atoms: Tri-
• Four Atoms: Tetra-
• Five Atoms: Penta-

Proper use of chemical nomenclature not only allows identification of the compound's composition but also provides insights into its potential chemical behavior.