Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for sulfur hexachloride?

• A. SCl_6
• B. S_2Cl_6
• C. SCl_4
• D. S_6Cl

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the meaning of the name 'sulfur hexachloride': 'sulfur' refers to the element sulfur (S), and 'hexachloride' indicates six chlorine (Cl) atoms bonded to sulfur.
2. Recall that the prefix 'hexa-' means six, so the compound should contain six chlorine atoms attached to one sulfur atom.
3. Write the chemical formula by placing the sulfur symbol first, followed by the chlorine symbol with the subscript 6 to indicate six chlorine atoms: \(SCl_6\).
4. Check the other options to ensure they do not match the name: \(S_2Cl_6\) implies two sulfur atoms, \(SCl_4\) implies four chlorine atoms, and \(S_6Cl\) implies six sulfur atoms and one chlorine atom, which do not correspond to 'sulfur hexachloride'.
5. Conclude that the correct chemical formula for sulfur hexachloride is \(SCl_6\).