Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for phosphorus trichloride?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Molecular Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for xenon trioxide?
A
XeO2
B
Xe3O
C
XeO3
D
Xe2O3
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the naming convention: 'Xenon trioxide' indicates a compound made of xenon (Xe) and oxygen (O) atoms, where 'tri-' means three oxygen atoms are bonded to one xenon atom.
Recall that the prefix 'tri-' in chemical nomenclature corresponds to the number 3, so the formula should have three oxygen atoms.
Write the chemical formula by combining one xenon atom with three oxygen atoms, which gives XeO3.
Check the other options to confirm: XeO2 has only two oxygen atoms, Xe3O has three xenon atoms but only one oxygen atom, and Xe2O3 has two xenon atoms and three oxygen atoms, which does not match the 'trioxide' naming.
Conclude that the correct chemical formula for xenon trioxide is XeO3.
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