What is the name of this binary compound: NaF ?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The name of the binary compound NaF is sodium fluoride.
Explanation:
NaF is a binary compound composed of two elements: sodium (Na) and fluorine (F). It is classified as an ionic compound, which means that the elements involved form ions with opposite charges that are held together by electrostatic forces.
Sodium (Na) is a metal and belongs to Group 1 of the periodic table. It readily loses one electron to form a positively charged ion, Na⁺. Fluorine (F), on the other hand, is a non-metal from Group 17 (the halogens). It readily gains one electron to form a negatively charged ion, F⁻. When these two elements combine, sodium donates one electron to fluorine, resulting in the formation of Na⁺ and F⁻ ions.
The compound NaF is formed when these oppositely charged ions attract each other. The resulting electrostatic attraction between Na⁺ and F⁻ ions is what holds the sodium fluoride compound together.
The naming convention for ionic compounds is to name the metal first, followed by the non-metal with its ending changed to “-ide.” Since sodium is the metal, it is named first, and fluoride is the name for the fluorine ion after it gains an electron.
In NaF, sodium’s oxidation state is +1 (as it loses one electron), and fluorine’s oxidation state is -1 (as it gains one electron). The charges of the ions balance each other out, making the compound electrically neutral.
Sodium fluoride is commonly used in various applications, including in toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay, in water fluoridation, and in industrial processes for the production of certain chemicals.