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Ch.6 - Ionic Compounds: Periodic Trends and Bonding Theory
Chapter 6, Problem 31

Three binary compounds are represented on the following drawing: red with red, blue with blue, and green with green. Give a likely formula for each compound.

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Step 1: The problem statement does not provide specific information about the elements represented by the colors red, blue, and green. However, we can make educated guesses based on the information given. In chemistry, a binary compound is a compound composed of exactly two different elements. The simplest binary compounds are binary ionic compounds, which are formed by the combination of a metal and a nonmetal.
Step 2: Let's assume that the red, blue, and green colors each represent a different element. Since we're dealing with binary compounds, each compound will be composed of two atoms of the same element. Therefore, the formula for each compound will be X2, where X is the element represented by the color.
Step 3: So, the likely formula for the compound represented by red with red would be Red2, for blue with blue would be Blue2, and for green with green would be Green2.
Step 4: Please note that these are not actual chemical formulas, but rather placeholders for the actual elements. The actual formulas would depend on the specific elements represented by the colors red, blue, and green.
Step 5: It's also important to note that not all elements form stable diatomic molecules (molecules composed of two atoms of the same element). The elements that do form stable diatomic molecules are hydrogen (H2), nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), fluorine (F2), chlorine (Cl2), bromine (Br2), and iodine (I2). These are often remembered using the mnemonic 'HONClBrIF'.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Binary Compounds

Binary compounds are chemical compounds composed of two different elements. They can be ionic or covalent, depending on the nature of the bonding between the elements. Understanding the types of elements involved (metals vs. nonmetals) helps in predicting the formula and properties of the compound.
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Chemical Formulas

A chemical formula represents the elements in a compound and their respective quantities. For binary compounds, the formula typically follows the convention of writing the more electropositive element first, followed by the more electronegative element. This notation provides insight into the composition and stoichiometry of the compound.
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Color Coding in Chemistry

In the context of the question, color coding (red, blue, green) likely represents different elements or types of atoms. This visual representation can help in identifying which elements combine to form the binary compounds. Recognizing these associations is crucial for accurately determining the likely formulas based on the given colors.
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