Multiple Choice
Why do some ionic compounds include a Roman numeral in their name?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for sodium cyanide?
A
NaCO
B
NaCNO
C
NaCN
D
NaNO_3
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the components of sodium cyanide. Sodium cyanide consists of sodium (Na) and the cyanide ion (CN⁻). The cyanide ion is a polyatomic ion made of one carbon atom triple-bonded to one nitrogen atom.
Step 2: Recognize that the chemical formula must reflect the combination of sodium ion (Na⁺) and cyanide ion (CN⁻) in a 1:1 ratio to balance the charges, resulting in a neutral compound.
Step 3: Analyze the given options: NaCO suggests sodium combined with carbonate (CO), which is incorrect; NaCNO suggests a different arrangement of atoms; NaCN correctly represents sodium and cyanide; NaNO₃ is sodium nitrate, a different compound.
Step 4: Confirm that the correct formula for sodium cyanide is NaCN, where Na is the sodium ion and CN is the cyanide ion.
Step 5: Remember that chemical formulas represent the simplest ratio of ions or atoms in a compound, and for sodium cyanide, this is NaCN.
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