Which formula/name pair is incorrect

Which formula/name pair is incorrect? A) Mn(NO2)2 manganese(II) nitrite B) Mn(NO3)2 manganese(II) nitrate C) Mg(NO3)2 magnesium nitrate D) Mg(MnO4)2 magnesium permanganate E) Mg3N2 magnesium nitrite

The Correct Answer and Explanation is :

The incorrect formula/name pair is E) Mg₃N₂ magnesium nitrite.

Explanation:

To understand why this pair is incorrect, we need to break down each compound and its corresponding name.

  1. A) Mn(NO₂)₂ manganese(II) nitrite:
  • The compound is manganese(II) nitrite.
  • Mn (Manganese) has a 2+ charge in this case, and the nitrite ion is NO₂⁻.
  • Since there are two NO₂⁻ ions to balance the charge of Mn²⁺, the formula is Mn(NO₂)₂. This is correct.
  1. B) Mn(NO₃)₂ manganese(II) nitrate:
  • The compound is manganese(II) nitrate.
  • Mn²⁺ is correctly paired with two nitrate ions (NO₃⁻), so the formula Mn(NO₃)₂ is correct.
  1. C) Mg(NO₃)₂ magnesium nitrate:
  • The compound is magnesium nitrate.
  • Mg²⁺ is correctly paired with two nitrate ions (NO₃⁻), so the formula Mg(NO₃)₂ is correct.
  1. D) Mg(MnO₄)₂ magnesium permanganate:
  • The compound is magnesium permanganate.
  • Mg²⁺ is paired with two permanganate ions (MnO₄⁻), and the formula Mg(MnO₄)₂ is correct.
  1. E) Mg₃N₂ magnesium nitrite:
  • The compound is incorrectly named.
  • The formula Mg₃N₂ corresponds to magnesium nitride, not magnesium nitrite.
  • Magnesium nitride consists of magnesium (Mg²⁺) and nitride (N³⁻) ions, and in this case, three Mg²⁺ ions balance two N³⁻ ions, forming Mg₃N₂.
  • Nitrite (NO₂⁻) would require a different composition (Mg(NO₂)₂), not Mg₃N₂.

Therefore, the correct name for Mg₃N₂ is magnesium nitride, not magnesium nitrite, making E the incorrect pair.

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