Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for sodium carbonate?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
Multiple Choice
Why is it incorrect to name the chemical compound Fe2S3 as diiron trisulfide?
A
Because Fe2S3 is a covalent compound and should use prefixes.
B
Because the compound contains polyatomic ions that require special naming rules.
C
Because prefixes like 'di-' and 'tri-' are not used when naming ionic compounds.
D
Because the name should be iron(II) sulfide instead.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the type of compound Fe2S3 represents. Fe (iron) is a metal and S (sulfur) is a nonmetal, so Fe2S3 is an ionic compound, not a covalent compound.
Step 2: Recall the naming conventions for ionic compounds: prefixes like 'di-' and 'tri-' are generally used for covalent (molecular) compounds, not ionic compounds.
Step 3: Understand that ionic compounds are named using the metal name followed by the nonmetal name with an '-ide' suffix, and if the metal can have multiple oxidation states, Roman numerals are used to indicate the charge.
Step 4: Determine the oxidation state of iron in Fe2S3 by balancing the charges: sulfur typically has a charge of -2, so for 3 sulfurs, total charge is -6; to balance, the 2 iron atoms must have a total charge of +6, meaning each iron is +3.
Step 5: Therefore, the correct name uses the metal name with its oxidation state in Roman numerals and the nonmetal name: iron(III) sulfide, not diiron trisulfide.
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