What is the correct name for the compound with the chemical formula COF_3?

• A. carbon fluoride oxide
• B. carbon trifluoride
• C. carbonyl trifluoride
• D. carbon trifluoride oxide

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the central atom and the types of atoms bonded to it in the compound COF_3. Here, carbon (C) is the central atom bonded to one oxygen (O) and three fluorine (F) atoms.
2. Recognize that the oxygen atom is double bonded to carbon, forming a carbonyl group (C=O). This is a common functional group in chemistry and influences the naming.
3. Note that the three fluorine atoms are bonded to carbon as substituents, and since there are three identical fluorine atoms, the prefix 'tri-' is used along with 'fluoride' to indicate three fluorine atoms.
4. Combine the parts of the name: the carbonyl group is named as 'carbonyl' and the three fluorine atoms as 'trifluoride', resulting in the name 'carbonyl trifluoride'.
5. Confirm that this naming follows IUPAC conventions for naming compounds with a carbonyl group and halogen substituents, making 'carbonyl trifluoride' the correct name for COF_3.