Question
Question: How would you name the molecule \({{N}_{2}}{{O}_{4}}\) ?...
How would you name the molecule N2O4 ?
Solution
For molecular compounds names would be given based on the number of atoms of each element present in the given compound. There will be a particular prefix based on the number of each atom present.
Complete step by step answer:
- In the question it is asked to write the name of the molecule N2O4 .
- The prefixes we are supposed to add to the name of the molecule are as follows.
- If a single atom is present then the prefix will be mono = 1.
- If two same atoms are present then the prefix will be di = 2.
- If three same atoms are present then the prefix will be tri = 3.
- If four same atoms are present then the prefix will be tetra = 4.
- If five same atoms are present then the prefix will be penta = 5.
- If six same atoms are present then the prefix will be hexa = 6.
- If seven same atoms are present then the prefix will be hepta = 7.
- If eight same atoms are present then the prefix will be octa = 8.
- If nine same atoms are present then the prefix will be nona = 9.
- If ten same atoms are present then the prefix will be deca = 10.
- Therefore the name of the given molecule is dinitrogen tetroxide (because two nitrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms are present in the given molecule N2O4 ).
Note: The letter ‘a’ at the end of the prefix should be replaced with ‘o’ letter while writing the name like ‘tetroxide’. The name of the molecule NH3 is mono nitrogen trihydride ( because single nitrogen and three hydrogens are present).