Binary Compounds Containing Two Nonmetals

To name these compounds, give the name of the less electronegative element first with the Greek prefix indicating the number of atoms of that element present, followed by the name of the more electronegative non-metal with the Greek prefix indicating the number of atoms of that element present and with its ending replaced by the suffix –ide.

Prefixes you should know:

Mono Di Tri Tetra Penta Hexa Hepta Octa Nona Deca

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Binary CompoundsContaining Two Nonmetals (Type III Compounds)

1. ________________ diarsenic trisulfide

2. ________________ sulfur dioxide

3. P2O5 ____________________

4. ________________ carbon dioxide

5. N2O5 ____________________

6. H2O ____________________

As2S3

SO2

diphosphorus pentoxide

CO2

dinitrogen pentoxide

dihydrogen monoxide

Prefixes – Binary Molecular CompoundsGreek Prefixes for Two Nonmetals

Number Indicated Prefixes

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

Binary Molecular Compounds

N2O dinitrogen monoxideN2O3 dinitrogen trioxideN2O5 dinitrogen pentoxide

ICl iodine monochlorideICl3 iodine trichloride

SO2 sulfur dioxideSO3 sulfur trioxide

Naming Binary CompoundsBinary Compound?

Metal Present?

Does the metal formmore than one cation?

Type IIIUse Greek

Prefixes

Type IUse the elementname for the cation.

Type IIDetermine the charge of the cation; use a Romannumeral after the cationname.

Yes

Yes

YesNo

No

Zumdahl, Zumdahl, DeCoste, World of Chemistry 2002, page 98