Question

What are binary compounds?

Answer 1

Binary compounds are compounds that contains exactly two different elements.

Explanation:

The prefix bi means "two". In chemistry, binary compounds are compounds that contains exactly two different elements.

Thus, compounds with polyatomic ions are not binary compounds.

E.g. Binary Compounds:
- `HCl`,
- `NaCl`,
- `H_"2"O`,
- `NH_"3"`.

E.g. Not Binary Compounds:
- `H_"2"SO_"4"`,
- `NaNO_"3"`,
- `LiOH`.
- `Ti(SO_"4")_"2"`

Note that certain acids are binary compounds.

Hope this helps :)