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9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas for
Molecular Compounds
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9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
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Binary Molecular Compounds
Chapter 9
Chemical Names and Formulas
What guidelines are used to write the
name and formula of a binary molecular
compound?
9.1 Naming Ions
9.2 Naming and Writing Formulas for Ionic
Compounds
9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas for
Molecular Compounds
9.4 Naming and Writing Formulas for Acids and
Bases
9.5 The Laws Governing How Compounds Form
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9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
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9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
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•  Binary molecular compounds are also
composed of two elements, but both
elements are nonmetals and are not ions.
•  Nonmetals cannot often combine in more
than one ratio.
•  Ex: carbon and oxygen can combine to form
two gaseous compounds, CO and CO2.
•  Binary molecular compounds are
composed of molecules, not ions
•  so ionic charges cannot be used to
write formulas or to name them.
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•  Cannot call both of these compounds
carbon oxide.
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11/20/13
9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
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9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
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•  You exhale CO2 as a product of your body
chemistry, and it is normally present in the
air you breathe.
Naming Binary Molecular Compounds
Prefixes in the names
of binary molecular
compounds help
distinguish
compounds
containing different
numbers of atoms,
such as CO and CO2.
•  CO is a poisonous gas that interferes with
your blood’s ability to carry oxygen to
body cells.
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9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
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Prefixes Used in Naming Binary
Molecular Compounds
Prefix
Number
mono-
1
di-
2
tri-
3
tetra-
4
penta-
5
hexa-
6
hepta-
7
octa-
8
nona-
9
deca-
10
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9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
>
Naming Binary Molecular Compounds
•  Prefixes in the names of binary molecular
compounds tell how many atoms of an
element are present in each molecule of
the compound.
Naming Binary Molecular Compounds
•  Before you apply these steps, you must
confirm that the compound is a binary
molecular compound.
•  The prefix mono- would be used for
the single oxygen atom in CO.
•  The prefix di- would be used for the
two oxygen atoms in CO2.
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11/20/13
9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
>
9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
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Naming Binary Molecular Compounds
•  CO is named carbon monoxide
•  CO2 is named carbon dioxide.
To name a binary molecular compound:
1.  Write the names of the elements in the order
listed in the formula.
•  Cl2O8 consists of two chlorine atoms and
eight oxygen atoms.
2.  Use prefixes appropriately to indicate the
number of each kind of atom.
If just one atom of the first element is in the
formula, omit the prefix mono- for that element.
Also, the vowel at the end of a prefix is
sometimes dropped when the name of the
element begins with a vowel.
•  dichlorine octoxide.
3.  End the name of the second element with the
suffix -ide.
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9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas for
Molecular Compounds
>
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9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
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Writing Formulas for Binary Molecular
Compounds
Naming Binary Molecular
Compounds
1.  Use the prefixes in the name to tell
you the subscript of each element in
the formula.
2.  Write the correct symbols for the two
elements with the appropriate
subscripts.
Name the following binary molecular
compounds.
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a.  N2O
dinitrogen monoxide
b.  PCl3
phosphorus trichloride
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11/20/13
9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas forBinary Molecular
Compounds
Molecular Compounds
>
9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas for
Sample Problem 9.7
Molecular Compounds
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Writing Formulas for Binary Molecular
Compounds
•  tetraphosphorus trisulfide
Writing Formulas for Binary Molecular
Compounds
Write formulas for the following binary
molecular compounds.
•  P4S3
a.  nitrogen trifluoride
b.  disulfur dichloride
Note: The number 1 is never used
as a subscript in a formula.
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9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas for
Sample Problem 9.7
Molecular Compounds
>
Construct the formula using the correct symbols
and subscripts.
a. 1 nitrogen atom; 3
fluorine atoms
NF3
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b. 2 sulfur atoms; 2
chlorine atoms
S2Cl2
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