Chapter 5, Problem 5.105EP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason for correct name of ${\text{Na}}_{\text{2}}{\text{CO}}_{\text{3}}$ is not disodium monocarbon trioxide has to be explained.

Concept Introduction:

Molecular compound that contains only two nonmetallic elements in it is known as Binary molecular compound.  Naming a binary molecular compound is similar to that of a binary ionic compound.  A major difference is that the binary molecular compound contain numerical prefixes which gives the information about the number of atoms of same kind are present in it.

For naming a binary molecular compound, the element that has lower electronegativity is given first and that is followed by a stem of the name of the nonmetal that is more electronegative and the suffix “-ide”.  Numerical prefixes are added to both nonmetals to indicate the number of atoms present in it.

Some binary molecular compounds have names that are no way related to the naming rules.  They are common names that are given for the compounds before the systematic rule development.

Chemical formula is a representation of the total number of same type of atoms that is present in the molecule.  The chemical formula for binary compounds can be identified from the prefix that is present in the two words of the name of binary compounds.  The prefix is put as number in subscript after the atomic symbol.