Question

Question #60254

Answer 1

Binary compounds contain two elements, thus the prefix 'bi'.

Binary Ionic compound contain a metal and a non-metal. While molecular (covalent) compounds contain two non-metals.

For ionic compounds the metal always keeps its name while the non-metal will keep the root of the element with the suffix -ide.

Examples

NaCl
Na = sodium Cl = chlorine
Keep the metal name sodium, take the root of chlor and add -ide.
sodium Chloride

`CaF_2`
Ca = calcium F = fluorine
Keep the metal name calcium, take the root fluor and add -ide.
calcium fluoride

For molecular (covalent) compounds the number of atoms in each molecule is identified by a prefix in the name. The second element will always end in the suffix -ide.

mono =1
di = 2
tri = 3
tetra = 4
penta = 5
hexa = 6
hepta = 7
octa = 8
nona = 9
deca = 10

Never use mono with the first element.

Examples

`CO_2`
C = carbon O = oxygen = oxide
carbon dioxide

`N_3Cl_5`
N = nItrogen Cl = chlorine = chloride
trinitrogen pentachloride

`P_4O_5`
P = phosphorus O = oxygen = oxide
tetraphosphorus pentoxide
(drop the a from the prefix when using oxide)

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER