Naming Binary Covalent Compounds

To name a binary covalent compound, name the first non-metal, including its prefix, then name the second non-metal, using the prefix and changing the ending to ide. (Note the prefix mono is generally not used for the first non-metal in the formula.)... 

The table shows some of the prefixes used to name binary covalent compounds. What name would be given to the compound PBr5 ... 

Different systems are used for naming binary covalent compounds and ionic compounds, and acids are named still other ways. For binary nonmetal-nonmetal compounds (which are covalent), name the leftmost or lower element in the periodic table first, and then name the other element. Change the ending of the second element to -ide, and indicate the number of atoms of that element in the molecule by a prefix (Table 6.1). If more than one... 

In binary covalent compounds the element names follow the same rules as those for binary ionic compounds. 

Binary covalent compounds are formed between two nonmetals. Although these compounds do not contain ions, they are named very similarly to binary ionic compounds. 

In the naming of binary covalent compounds the following rules apply ... 

For more practice with naming binary covalent compounds, go to Supplemental Practice Problems in Appendix A. 

Nearly all binary molecular compormds involve two nonmetals bonded together. Although many nonmetals can exhibit different oxidation numbers, their oxidation numbers are not properly indicated by Roman numerals or suffixes. Instead, elemental proportions in binary covalent compounds are indicated by using a prefix system for both elements. The Greek and Latin prefixes for one through ten are mono, di, tri, tetra, penta, hexa, hepta, octa, nona, and deca. The prefix mono- is omitted for both elements except in the common name for CO, carbon monoxide. We use the minimum number of prefixes needed to name a compound unambiguously. The final a in a prefix is omitted when the nonmetal stem begins with the letter o we write heptoxide, not heptaoxide. ... 

We can probably assume that tbe parent who wrote this note meant the child was taken to the doctor for an injection, but who knows Like everyone else, chemists need to be careful about how they use language, and the names and formulas for chemical compounds form the core of the language of chemistry. The purpose of this section is to describe the guidelines for constructing the names for binary covalent compounds, which are pure substances that consist of two nonmetallic elements. The water, H2O, you boil to cook your eggs and the methane, CH4, in natural gas that can he burned to heat the water are examples of binary covalent compounds. 

Names and Formulas of some Binary Covalent Compounds... 

Follow these steps to write the names for binary covalent compounds. 

Now let s go the other way and convert from systematic names to chemical formulas. The first step in writing formulas when given the systematic name of a binary covalent compound is to recognize the name as representing a binary covalent compound. It will have one of the following general forms. 

Follow these steps for writing formulas for binary covalent compounds when you are given a systematic name. Notice that they are the reverse of the steps for writing names from chemical formulas. 

There is a tutorial on the textbook s Web site that provides practice converting between names and formulas of binary covalent compounds. 

Given a formula or name for a compound, identify whether it represents a binary covalent compound. 

Convert between the names and formulas for alcohols, binary covalent compounds, and ionic compounds. (Sections 3.3-3.5)... 

Formula Named as Binary Covalent Compound Acid Formula Named as Binary acid... 

Given a name or chemical formula, tell whether it represents a binary ionic compound, an ionic compound with polyatomic ion(s), a binary covalent compound, a binary acid, or an oxyacid. 

Convert between names and chemical formulas for binary ionic compounds, ionic compounds with polyatomic ion(s), binary covalent compounds, binary acids, and oxyacids. 

Binary covalent compounds are formed by the combination of two elements, usually nonmetals. Several are so familiar, such as ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), and water (H2O), that we use their common names, but most are named in a systematic way ... 

Name each of the binary covalent compounds listed below. 

Many binary molecular compounds, such as nitrous oxide and water, were discovered and given common names long before the present-day naming system was developed. Other binary covalent compounds that are generally known by their common names rather than their scientific names are ammonia (NH3), hydrazine (N4H4), and nitric oxide (NO). 

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