Which of the following is the correct name for the compound HF?

• A. Fluorine acid
• B. Hydrogen fluoride acid
• C. Fluoric acid
• D. Hydrofluoric acid

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the elements in the compound HF. It consists of hydrogen (H) and fluorine (F).
2. Step 2: Recognize that HF is a binary compound formed between hydrogen and a halogen (fluorine).
3. Step 3: Understand the naming convention for binary acids: when hydrogen is combined with a halogen and dissolved in water, the compound is named as a hydro- prefix + root of the halogen name + -ic acid suffix.
4. Step 4: Apply this rule to HF: the root of fluorine is 'fluor-', so the acid name becomes 'hydrofluoric acid'.
5. Step 5: Confirm that the correct name for HF is 'hydrofluoric acid', not 'fluorine acid', 'hydrogen fluoride acid', or 'fluoric acid'.