In acid nomenclature, what type of compound is $H_2{S}_{O}3$ ($H_2{S}_{O}3$)?

• A. A base (metal hydroxide)
• B. A salt (ionic compound with no acidic hydrogen)
• C. An oxyacid (ternary acid containing oxygen)
• D. A binary acid (acid containing only hydrogen and a nonmetal, no oxygen)

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the chemical formula given: \(H_2SO_3\).
2. Recognize that the compound contains hydrogen (H), sulfur (S), and oxygen (O) atoms.
3. Recall that acids containing hydrogen and oxygen along with another element (usually a nonmetal) are called oxyacids or ternary acids.
4. Understand that binary acids contain only hydrogen and one other nonmetal element, without oxygen.
5. Conclude that since \(H_2SO_3\) contains oxygen, it is classified as an oxyacid.