Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for nitrogen triiodide?

• A. N3I
• B. NI
• C. N2I3
• D. NI3

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the naming convention: 'Nitrogen triiodide' indicates a compound made of nitrogen and iodine atoms, where 'tri-' means three iodine atoms are bonded to one nitrogen atom.
2. Identify the elements involved: 'Nitrogen' corresponds to the symbol N, and 'iodide' corresponds to the symbol I.
3. Determine the number of atoms of each element: 'triiodide' means there are three iodine atoms, so the formula must include I with a subscript 3.
4. Combine the symbols with the correct subscripts: one nitrogen atom (N) and three iodine atoms (I3) gives the formula NI3.
5. Verify the options given: N3I suggests three nitrogen atoms and one iodine atom, NI suggests one nitrogen and one iodine atom, N2I3 suggests two nitrogen atoms and three iodine atoms, so the correct formula matching nitrogen triiodide is NI3.