What is the name of NH4C2H3O2? A. mononitrogen heptahydrogen dicarbon dioxide ammonium acetate B. ammonia trihydrogen dicarbon dioxide ammonium trihydrogen dicarbon dioxide C. mononitrogen tetrahydride acetate
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: C. mononitrogen tetrahydride acetate
Explanation
The chemical formula NH₄C₂H₃O₂ represents ammonium acetate, which is a compound composed of two ions:
- NH₄⁺ – the ammonium ion
- C₂H₃O₂⁻ – the acetate ion
Let us break this down:
NH₄⁺: Ammonium Ion
- NH₄⁺ is a polyatomic ion made up of one nitrogen atom and four hydrogen atoms.
- The name “ammonium” is used instead of “mononitrogen tetrahydride” in standard naming, but “mononitrogen tetrahydride” is technically accurate based on IUPAC element naming rules. “Mono-” refers to one nitrogen atom, and “tetrahydride” refers to four hydrogen atoms bonded to it.
C₂H₃O₂⁻: Acetate Ion
- This is the conjugate base of acetic acid (CH₃COOH).
- It contains two carbon atoms, three hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms.
- The name acetate is derived from its parent acid, and it is commonly used in both systematic and common naming systems.
Naming the Entire Compound:
- When combining the ammonium cation (NH₄⁺) and the acetate anion (C₂H₃O₂⁻), we get ammonium acetate.
- Systematically, the names of the ions can be translated as:
- NH₄⁺: mononitrogen tetrahydride (less commonly used but technically descriptive)
- C₂H₃O₂⁻: acetate
Analysis of Answer Choices:
- A uses incorrect prefixes and unnecessary descriptors like “heptahydrogen dicarbon dioxide,” which do not match the actual structure.
- B incorrectly names the compound by repeating parts and misidentifying components.
- C correctly and simply describes the two parts using a formal naming structure: mononitrogen tetrahydride (for NH₄⁺) and acetate (for C₂H₃O₂⁻).
Thus, C is the best and most accurate choice.
