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

Identify the elements and their subscripts

Sulfur has the chemical symbol 'S'. Dioxide implies two oxygen atoms, and the chemical symbol for oxygen is 'O'. So, the chemical formula for sulfur dioxide is SO₂. #b. dinitrogen monoxide#

Identify the elements and their subscripts

Dinitrogen implies two nitrogen atoms, and the chemical symbol for nitrogen is 'N'. Monoxide implies one oxygen atom. So, the chemical formula for dinitrogen monoxide is N₂O. #c. xenon tetrafluoride#

Identify the elements and their subscripts

Xenon has the chemical symbol 'Xe'. Tetrafluoride implies four fluorine atoms, and the chemical symbol for fluorine is 'F'. So, the chemical formula for xenon tetrafluoride is XeF₄. #d. tetraphosphorus decoxide#

Identify the elements and their subscripts

Tetraphosphorus implies four phosphorus atoms, and the chemical symbol for phosphorus is 'P'. Decoxide implies ten oxygen atoms. So, the chemical formula for tetraphosphorus decoxide is P₄O₁₀. #e. phosphorus pentachloride#

Identify the elements and their subscripts

Phosphorus has the chemical symbol 'P'. Pentachloride implies five chlorine atoms, and the chemical symbol for chlorine is 'Cl'. So, the chemical formula for phosphorus pentachloride is PCl₅. #f. sulfur hexafluoride#

Identify the elements and their subscripts

Sulfur has the chemical symbol 'S'. Hexafluoride implies six fluorine atoms. So, the chemical formula for sulfur hexafluoride is SF₆. #g. nitrogen dioxide#

Identify the elements and their subscripts

Nitrogen has the chemical symbol 'N'. Dioxide implies two oxygen atoms. So, the chemical formula for nitrogen dioxide is NO₂.

Key concepts

Chemical Formulas

Chemical formulas act like a blueprint that tells us which elements make up a compound and how many of each element are present. These formulas are crucial for understanding the composition of any substance.
For example, in the chemical formula for sulfur dioxide, SO₂, "SO" references the elements sulfur and oxygen. The subscript '2' next to oxygen gives us the number of oxygen atoms bonded to one sulfur atom.
Such formulas help chemists identify potential reactions and understand the properties of compounds.

Nonmetallic Elements

Nonmetallic elements are the building blocks for many compounds in nature. Unlike metals, nonmetals generally have lower melting points and are poorer conductors of heat and electricity.

• Examples include sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, and fluorine.
• In the compound sulfur dioxide (SO₂), both sulfur and oxygen are nonmetals.
• Understanding the properties of these nonmetals aids in predicting the behavior of their compounds.

Nonmetals can form compounds with distinct structures and properties, making them versatile in chemical reactions.

Nomenclature

Nomenclature is the systematic method of naming chemical compounds. This makes it easy for scientists globally to communicate complex chemical information. The names consist of components that reflect the number of atoms and type of elements involved.
For binary compounds of nonmetals, prefixes such as "di-", "tri-", and "tetra-" indicate the number of atoms of each element. For instance, "dinitrogen monoxide" translates to N₂O, where "di-" indicates two nitrogen atoms.
Mastering chemical nomenclature is essential as it provides clarity and precision in the description of compounds.

Molecular Compounds

Molecular compounds are composed of molecules formed by nonmetalic elements. These are different from ionic compounds, which are composed of ions. Molecular compounds share electrons between atoms through covalent bonds.

• Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) are examples of molecular compounds.
• The distinct arrangement of atoms within a molecule affects the compound's physical and chemical properties.
• These compounds can be gases, liquids, or solids at room temperature.

Understanding molecular compounds is crucial in fields ranging from chemistry to biology, as they form the basis for complex biochemical processes.