Write the formula for each molecular compound. a. boron tribromide b. dichlorine monoxide c. xenon tetrafluoride d. carbon tetrabromide

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the prefixes in the names of the compounds to determine the number of each type of atom in the molecule.
2. For boron tribromide, 'tri-' indicates three bromine atoms, so the formula is BBr_3.
3. For dichlorine monoxide, 'di-' indicates two chlorine atoms and 'mono-' indicates one oxygen atom, so the formula is Cl_2O.
4. For xenon tetrafluoride, 'tetra-' indicates four fluorine atoms, so the formula is XeF_4.
5. For carbon tetrabromide, 'tetra-' indicates four bromine atoms, so the formula is CBr_4.

Key Concepts

Molecular Compounds

Molecular compounds are formed when two or more nonmetals bond together by sharing electrons. They are characterized by specific formulas that indicate the number of each type of atom present in the molecule. Understanding how to name and write formulas for these compounds is essential, as it reflects the composition and structure of the substance.

Naming Conventions

The naming of molecular compounds follows specific conventions, often using prefixes to denote the number of atoms of each element. For example, 'mono-' indicates one, 'di-' indicates two, and 'tri-' indicates three. This systematic approach helps in accurately conveying the composition of the compound, such as in 'dichlorine monoxide' for Cl2O.

Chemical Formulas

A chemical formula represents the types and numbers of atoms in a molecule. For molecular compounds, the formula is typically written with the more electropositive element first, followed by the more electronegative element. For instance, in xenon tetrafluoride (XeF4), the formula indicates one xenon atom and four fluorine atoms, reflecting the molecular structure.