Multiple Choice
When sodium and chlorine combine to form sodium chloride, sodium chloride is the:
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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When naming ionic compounds, should prefixes (such as mono-, di-, tri-) be used to indicate the number of atoms?
A
Prefixes are only used for ionic compounds containing transition metals.
B
No, prefixes are not used when naming ionic compounds.
C
Yes, prefixes are always used for ionic compounds.
D
Prefixes are used only when the compound contains polyatomic ions.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that ionic compounds are formed between metals and nonmetals, where electrons are transferred to form ions.
Recall that in naming ionic compounds, the focus is on the charges of the ions to balance the formula, not on the number of atoms explicitly.
Recognize that prefixes like mono-, di-, tri- are typically used in naming covalent (molecular) compounds to indicate the number of atoms of each element.
Note that for ionic compounds, prefixes are generally not used because the ratio of ions is determined by their charges, and the formula itself reflects the ratio.
Conclude that prefixes are not used when naming ionic compounds, regardless of whether transition metals or polyatomic ions are present.
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