How do I name binary molecular compounds?

Binary contain two , thus the prefix 'bi'.

Binary Ionic compound contain a metal and a non-metal. While molecular (covalent) compounds contain two non-metals.

For the metal always keeps its name while the non-metal will keep the root of the element with the suffix -ide.

Examples

NaCl Na = sodium Cl = chlorine Keep the metal name sodium, take the root of chlor and add -ide. sodium Chloride

##CaF_2## Ca = calcium F = fluorine Keep the metal name calcium, take the root fluor and add -ide. calcium fluoride

For molecular (covalent) compounds the number of atoms in each molecule is identified by a prefix in the name. The second element will always end in the suffix -ide.

mono =1 di = 2 tri = 3 tetra = 4 penta = 5 hexa = 6 hepta = 7 octa = 8 nona = 9 deca = 10

Never use mono with the first element.

Examples

##CO_2## C = carbon O = oxygen = oxide carbon dioxide

##N_3Cl_5## N = nItrogen Cl = chlorine = chloride trinitrogen pentachloride

##P_4O_5## P = phosphorus O = oxygen = oxide tetraphosphorus pentoxide (drop the a from the prefix when using oxide)

I hope this was helpful. SMARTERTEACHER