What is the correct name for the covalent compound with the formula SO_2?

• A. Disulfur oxide
• B. Sulfur oxide
• C. Sulfur dioxide
• D. Sulfur monoxide

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the elements present in the compound SO_2: sulfur (S) and oxygen (O).
2. Recognize that SO_2 is a covalent compound composed of nonmetals, so we use prefixes to indicate the number of atoms of each element.
3. Determine the number of atoms of each element: 1 sulfur atom and 2 oxygen atoms.
4. Apply the appropriate prefixes: 'mono-' for one (usually omitted for the first element) and 'di-' for two, combined with the element names. For oxygen, the ending changes to '-ide' to form 'oxide'.
5. Combine the parts to form the name: 'sulfur' (no prefix for one atom) + 'di-' (for two oxygen atoms) + 'oxide', resulting in 'sulfur dioxide'.