Write formulas for the following compounds,
Sulfur hexafluoride Express your answer as a chemical formula
Bromine triiodide Express your answer as a chemical formula.
Dinitrogen trioxide Express your answer as a chemical formula.
Nitrogen triiodide Express your answer as a chemical formula.
Iodine heptafluoride Express your answer as a chemical formula.
The correct answer and explanation is :
Chemical Formulas for the Given Compounds
- Sulfur hexafluoride
Formula: SF₆
Explanation: Sulfur hexafluoride is composed of one sulfur (S) atom and six fluorine (F) atoms. The “hexa-” prefix indicates that there are six fluorine atoms attached to the sulfur atom. This compound is used as an insulating gas in electrical equipment. - Bromine triiodide
Formula: BrI₃
Explanation: Bromine triiodide is made up of one bromine (Br) atom and three iodine (I) atoms. The “tri-” prefix signifies that there are three iodine atoms bonded to a single bromine atom. This compound is typically synthesized through direct halogenation reactions and is known for its chemical reactivity. - Dinitrogen trioxide
Formula: N₂O₃
Explanation: Dinitrogen trioxide is composed of two nitrogen (N) atoms and three oxygen (O) atoms. The “di-” prefix indicates two nitrogen atoms, and the “tri-” prefix indicates three oxygen atoms. This compound is a nitrogen oxide and can be formed by the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen at low temperatures. It plays a role in atmospheric chemistry, particularly in the formation of nitrogen oxides. - Nitrogen triiodide
Formula: NI₃
Explanation: Nitrogen triiodide consists of one nitrogen (N) atom and three iodine (I) atoms. The “tri-” prefix refers to the presence of three iodine atoms attached to a single nitrogen atom. This compound is highly sensitive and explosive when dry, often used in demonstrations of chemical reactivity. - Iodine heptafluoride
Formula: IF₇
Explanation: Iodine heptafluoride consists of one iodine (I) atom and seven fluorine (F) atoms. The “hepta-” prefix indicates that there are seven fluorine atoms bonded to a single iodine atom. This compound is one of the most reactive and stable iodine compounds and is used in specialized chemical processes and as a fluorinating agent in industrial applications.
Understanding the Nomenclature
The formulas of these compounds are derived from the system of nomenclature known as the Stock system or IUPAC nomenclature, where prefixes such as “mono-” (for one), “di-” (for two), “tri-” (for three), “tetra-” (for four), “penta-” (for five), “hexa-” (for six), and “hepta-” (for seven) are used to indicate the number of atoms of each element in the compound.
For example:
- In SF₆, “S” represents sulfur and “F” represents fluorine, with “hexa-” indicating six fluorine atoms.
- BrI₃ follows the same principle: “Br” represents bromine, and “I” represents iodine, with the “tri-” prefix signifying three iodine atoms attached to the bromine atom.
This system helps avoid confusion when naming molecular compounds, especially for those that do not form simple ionic structures, like the examples given. These chemical formulas provide clarity in the composition of the compounds and follow systematic rules based on the number of atoms involved.