Question

Name each binary covalent compound.

a. BrF₃

b. SiO₂

c. P₂O₅

d. Se₂S₆

Answer 1

Naming binary covalent compounds the binary covalent compounds are named similar to that of ionic compounds I first select he least electronegative element and name it first it is named by prefixing Greek numerical prefixes eg: - N_2O_5 here Nitrogen is least electronegative compared to oxygen so it is named in the first with greek prefix as follows ii the name of the least electronegative atom/element followed by most electronegative element name ending with suffix 'ide' gg atom/element name 'O' oxide 's' sulfide 'Cl' chloride 'F' flouride here also the name of the element is prefixed by greek numerical prefixes eg: N_2O_5 dinlitrogen penta oxide greek numerical prefix greek numerical prefix note: the prefix mono is not used at the beginning of name of the binary covalent/ionic compound now the given compounds are named as follows a) BrF_3: bromide trifluoride [bromide - least electro negative] b) SiO_2: silicon dioxide [silicon - least electro negative] c) P_2O_5