Beryllium (Be) and fluorine (F) combine to make the compound BeF2. What is the chemical name for this compound?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The chemical name for the compound BeF₂ is beryllium fluoride.
Explanation:
The name of a chemical compound is derived from the elements that form it. In this case, beryllium (Be) and fluorine (F) combine to form a binary ionic compound. To understand the naming of this compound, let’s break down the steps involved:
- Identify the Elements Involved:
- Beryllium (Be): Beryllium is a metal in group 2 of the periodic table. It is an alkaline earth metal and has a +2 charge when it forms ions (Be²⁺).
- Fluorine (F): Fluorine is a nonmetal in group 17 (the halogens) of the periodic table. Fluorine gains one electron to form a fluoride ion (F⁻), carrying a -1 charge.
- Determine the Ionic Bonding:
- When these two elements combine, beryllium loses two electrons to form the Be²⁺ ion, while each fluorine atom gains one electron to form two F⁻ ions.
- The overall charge on the compound must be neutral, so for every beryllium ion (Be²⁺), two fluoride ions (F⁻) are required to balance the charge. This results in the formula BeF₂.
- Naming the Compound:
- The naming convention for binary ionic compounds (those composed of a metal and a nonmetal) involves naming the metal first, followed by the nonmetal.
- The metal keeps its elemental name, “beryllium,” and the nonmetal is given an “-ide” suffix. Fluorine becomes “fluoride.”
- Therefore, the name of BeF₂ is beryllium fluoride.
- Ionic Compound Characteristics:
- As an ionic compound, BeF₂ consists of positive and negative ions held together by strong electrostatic forces (ionic bonds). It is typically crystalline and has high melting and boiling points due to the strong interactions between the ions.
In summary, the chemical name for BeF₂ is beryllium fluoride, reflecting its ionic nature and the elements involved.