Question

Write the formulas of the following compounds:

Answer 1

Answer:

(a) barium chloride : BaCl₂ [the cation is barium and anion chloride]  

(b) magnesium-nitride : Mg₃N₂ [Mg is cation and N anion]

(c) sulfur dioxide : SO₂ [ S is cation and O anion]

(d) nitrogen trichloride  : NCl₃

(e) dinitrogen trioxide : N₂O₃ [two nitrogens and three oxygen]

(f) tin(IV) chloride : SnCl₄

Explanation:

The formula of a compound comprises of the symbol of all the elements.

The element or ion having positive charge is written first followed by anion.

The number of any element is represented as subscript in the formula.

(a) barium chloride : BaCl₂ [the cation is barium and anion chloride]  

(b) magnesium-nitride : Mg₃N₂ [Mg is cation and N anion]

(c) sulfur dioxide : SO₂ [ S is cation and O anion]

(d) nitrogen trichloride  : NCl₃

(e) dinitrogen trioxide : N₂O₃ [two nitrogens and three oxygen]

(f) tin(IV) chloride : SnCl₄

Answer 2

Answer: (a) barium chloride : $BaCl_2$

(b) magnesium-nitride: $Mg_3N_2$

(c) sulfur dioxide : $SO_2$

(d) nitrogen trichloride : $NCl_3$

(e) dinitrogen trioxide : $N_2O_3$

(f) tin(IV) chloride : $SnCl_4$

Explanation:

The nomenclature of ionic compounds is given by:

1. Positive is written first followed by the oxidation state of metal in roman numerals in square brackets.

2. The negative ion is written next and a suffix is added at the end of the negative ion. The suffix written is '-ide'.

The naming of covalent compound is given by:

1. The less electronegative element is written first.

2. The more electronegative element is written second. Then a suffix is added with it. The suffix added is '-ide'.

If atoms of an element is greater than 1, then prefixes are added which are 'mono' for 1 atom, 'di' for 2 atoms, 'tri' for 3 atoms and so on.

a) Barium chloride is an ionic compound and the chemical formula will be $BaCl_2$

b)  Magnesium-nitride is an ionic compound and the chemical formula will be $Mg_3N_2$

c) Sulfur dioxide  is a covalent compound and the chemical formula will be $SO_2$

d) Nitrogen trichloride is a covalent compound and the chemical formula will be $NCl_3$

e) Dinitrogen trioxide is a covalent compound and the chemical formula will be $N_2O_3$

f)  Tin(IV) chloride is an ionic compound and the chemical formula will be $SnCl_4$