Best Answer: Ionic binary compounds -- contain a metal cation and an anion made of a nonmetal or a polyatomic anion. Consider calcium phosphate: Ca = 2+ (Group IIA) PO4 = 3- (phosphate) The lowest common multiple of 2+ and 3- is 6. You must have 3 Ca2+ to make +6; you must have 2 PO43- to make -6. The sum of the positive and negative charges must be equal in a compound because they are electrically neutral. Ca3(PO4)2 -- calcium phosphate
Binary molecular compounds -- contain two or more nonmetals bonded covalently. There are no ions present because the atoms share electrons. Prefixes are used to indicate the number of atoms of each kind present. Examples are: SO2 -- sulfur dioxide N2O4 -- dinitrogen tetraoxide PCl3 -- phosphorous trichloride CO -- carbon monoxide
The general formula for an acid is HX, where X is an anion. Binary acids contain H and a nonmetal and are named with the prefix "hydro" and the suffix "ic". Examples are: HCl -- hydrochloric acid H2S -- hydrosulfuric acid HF -- hydrofluoric acid Ternary acids contain H and a polyatomic anion. Examples are: H2SO4 -- sulfuric acid HNO3 -- nitric acid HNO2 -- nitrous acid HClO3 -- chloric acid HClO2 -- chlorous acid HClO -- hypochlorous acid The names of the anions are changed as follows: -ate anions form -ic acids -ite anions form -ous acids per...ate anions form per...ic acids hypo...ite anions form hypo...ous acids.
