What is the name of the compound with the formula CF4
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The compound with the formula CF4 is named carbon tetrafluoride.
Explanation:
Carbon tetrafluoride is a chemical compound consisting of one carbon (C) atom and four fluorine (F) atoms. It is part of a family of compounds known as tetrafluorides, where the “tetra-” prefix indicates that there are four fluorine atoms bonded to a single central atom, which is carbon in this case.
In chemical nomenclature, the rules are based on the number of atoms and the type of elements involved. For compounds like CF4, which are binary (made of two different elements), the following rules apply:
- The first element, carbon, retains its name.
- The second element, fluorine, is named using its root, “fluor,” with the “-ine” suffix replaced by “-ide.”
- The prefix “tetra-” is used to indicate that there are four fluorine atoms.
Carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) is a colorless, odorless gas that is chemically inert and non-flammable. It is commonly used in applications like electronics manufacturing and as a refrigerant. The molecule is tetrahedral in shape due to the bonding of the four fluorine atoms around the central carbon atom. Each fluorine atom forms a single bond with the carbon, and these bonds are equivalent in length and strength, contributing to the stability of the compound.
This compound is often confused with others that have similar naming conventions, but the key differentiating factor is the number of fluorine atoms in the formula, which is four in CF4. Therefore, the correct name for this compound is carbon tetrafluoride.
