📚 Topic Summary
Binary covalent compounds are formed when two nonmetal atoms share electrons to form a chemical bond. Unlike ionic compounds, we use prefixes to denote the number of each atom present in the molecule. The first element in the name is the more electropositive element, named as is, followed by the appropriate prefix if there is more than one atom of that element. The second element is named with an -ide ending, and it *always* requires a prefix to denote the number of atoms.
For example, $N_2O_5$ is named dinitrogen pentoxide.
🧪 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the term with its correct definition:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Prefix |
a. A bond formed by sharing electrons |
| 2. Covalent Bond |
b. Two nonmetal atoms bonded together |
| 3. Binary Compound |
c. The more electropositive atom in a covalent compound |
| 4. First Element |
d. A word part added to the beginning of a chemical name to indicate the number of atoms. |
| 5. -ide |
e. The suffix added to the end of the second element in a binary compound. |
📝 Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences using the words provided:
(prefixes, second, nonmetal, shared, first)
- Binary covalent compounds are formed when two ______ atoms have electrons ______.
- We use ______ to denote the number of each atom in the molecule.
- The ______ element uses its elemental name followed by the prefix, if needed.
- The ______ element is named with an -ide ending, and *always* requires a prefix.
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Explain why prefixes are necessary when naming binary covalent compounds, but not typically for ionic compounds.