Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for tetraphosphorus trisulfide?

• A. P4S3
• B. P3S4
• C. P2S3
• D. PS3

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the naming convention for binary molecular compounds, which often use prefixes to indicate the number of atoms of each element in the compound. The prefix 'tetra-' means 4, and 'tri-' means 3.
2. Step 2: Identify the elements involved in the compound name. 'Tetraphosphorus trisulfide' contains phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S).
3. Step 3: Apply the prefixes to the elements to determine the number of atoms of each. 'Tetraphosphorus' means 4 phosphorus atoms, and 'trisulfide' means 3 sulfur atoms.
4. Step 4: Write the chemical formula by placing the symbol for phosphorus (P) followed by the number 4 as a subscript, then the symbol for sulfur (S) followed by the number 3 as a subscript, resulting in \(P_4S_3\).
5. Step 5: Confirm that the formula matches the naming convention and the given options, ensuring that \(P_4S_3\) is the correct formula for tetraphosphorus trisulfide.