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The number of atoms in each element .

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Q: What information do prefixes in the name of a binary molecular compound tell you about the composition of the compound?
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What does the prefix in a chemical formula mean?

Different things for different prefixes. Meth, eth, prop, etc. are prefixes in organic chemistry that tell you that there are 1, 2, 3, etc. carbon atoms in a compound. Other prefixes mean other things. But you need to learn the rules for naming compounds, because there are exceptions. CO has just one carbon, but its name has nothing to do with the meth prefix. It is called carbon monoxide.


How is a molecular formula determined?

There are 4 step to determine molecular formula, which are given bellow Step:1:- Find empirical formula Step:2:- Find empirical formula mass Step:3:- Find n n=molecular mass/empirical formula mass Step:4:- now find molecular formula to find molecular formula molecular formula(empirical formula)n


Why is it called magnesium bromide instead of magnesium dibromide?

The convention of adding number prefixes such as di- and tri- to a compound's name is generally reserved for covalent compounds (carbon dioxide, nitrogen trichloride). Magnesium bromide is an ionic compound, so a different naming convention applies.


How do the prefixes in the metric system?

In the metric systems, unlike other systems, there is only one unit for each measurement; e.g the only unit for length is the metre. For lengths much longer, or shorter, lengths we use prefixes to indicate the fraction or multiple of the metre. For short lengths the fractions are thousandths, millionths, billionths; for which the prefixes are milli-, micro-, and nano-. For longer lengths, the multiples are thousands, millions, and billions; for which the prefixes are kilo-, mega-, and giga-. The prefixes indicate the fraction,or the multiple of the base unit.


What are the prefixes indicating the number of carbons in an organic molecule from 1-10?

These prefixes are:meth, eth, prop, but, pent, hex, hept, oct, non, dec.

Related questions

Why use prefixes for molecular compounds?

two ions can combine in only one combination


Why is Al2O3 is named aluminum oxide without prefixes?

Aluminum oxide is an ionic compound. Prefixes are not used in naming ionic compounds, but are used in naming binary molecular compounds.


What is the name of the chemical with the formula P5Cl8?

It's a covalent, or molecular compound, so prefixes are required. Its name is pentaphosphorus octochloride.


What is the relationship between prefixes and molecular compounds?

the relationship between prefixes and molecular compounds is that, prefix are used to name molecular compounds.


Is PF3 a compound or element?

Yes. It is Phosphorus Trifluoride. Uh, no. Phosphorus and fluoride are both nonmetals and both form anions. Thus, PF3 is a molecular compound. Also, that PF3 is called phosphorus TRIfluoride should indicate to you that it is a molecular compound, because only molecular compounds have prefixes.


What ARE the prefixes of the covalent compound N2O5?

it is n205


Why do you put prefixes in front of molecular compositions but not ionic compounds?

Just because


How would you know that nitrogen dioxide is a covalent compound just from the name?

Sadly you do not. Sodium oxide, thats ionic. The -ide ending and the prefixes di- tri etc do not indicate the type of bonding. They indicate composition of the compound. It is a common mistake that is sadly taught in some places.


What is the difference between the composition of binary ionic and binary molecular compounds?

Binary molecular (covalent) compounds are named according to the number of atoms in the compound. Each number has it's own prefix.List of Prefixes:mono-di-tri-tetra-penta-hexa-hepta-octa-nona-deca-For example:CO2 = Carbon dioxideBr2O7 = Dibromine heptoxide (note "a" is sometimes excluded for word flow)Br4Cl8 = Tetrabromine octachlorideIn comparison, ionic compounds don't have prefixes but the anion (second ion) always has the suffix "-ide"For example:Li2O- Lithium oxideCaBr2- Calcium bromideAl2O3- Aluminum oxideThe reason you don't need prefixes to specify the number of ions in an ionic compound is because the charges of the two atoms add to zero (you could figure it out if you wanted to based on the given information).


What is the definition of binary molecular compound?

Binary molecular compounds are composed of only two elements.Both are nonmetalsThey are not ions, so ionic charges are not used in formulas.They may combine in more than one way such as CO or CO2.A prefix is used in the name, such as mono- or di-An example of both the formula and the name of a binary molecular compound would be N2O4 or dinitrogen tetroxide. The prefixes are used in accordance to how many of one element is the formula, in this case two nitrogen and four oxygen.


How do the names of cove lent compound differ from the names of ionic compound?

covelant bonads use prefixes & ionicbonds do not


Is Triphosphorous pentachloride ionic or molecular?

Molecular. If you compare the electronegativities of phosphorus and chlorine, the difference between them falls in a spectrum of molecular compounds. The quick and easy answers : 1) non metals only = molecular. 2) the prefixes in the name (tri =3, penta=5) are used for the naming of molecular compounds (and hydrates)