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Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules & Ions
Chapter 2, Problem 146a

Give systematic names for the following binary compounds: (a) CsF

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Identify the elements in the compound: Cs (Cesium) and F (Fluorine).
Determine the type of compound: CsF is a binary ionic compound because it consists of a metal (Cs) and a non-metal (F).
Name the metal (cation) first: The metal in the compound is Cesium, so the name starts with 'Cesium'.
Name the non-metal (anion) second: The non-metal is Fluorine, and in binary ionic compounds, the non-metal's name is modified to end in '-ide'. Therefore, Fluorine becomes 'Fluoride'.
Combine the names: The systematic name of CsF is 'Cesium Fluoride'.

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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 consist of two different elements. In chemistry, these compounds can be ionic or covalent, depending on the nature of the bonding between the elements. Understanding the type of binary compound is essential for determining the correct naming conventions.
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Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds are formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of charged ions. In the case of CsF, cesium (Cs) donates an electron to fluorine (F), creating Cs⁺ and F⁻ ions. The systematic naming of ionic compounds typically involves naming the cation first followed by the anion.
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Systematic Naming Conventions

Systematic naming conventions in chemistry, such as the IUPAC nomenclature, provide a standardized method for naming compounds. For binary ionic compounds, the name of the metal (cation) is followed by the name of the non-metal (anion) with its ending changed to '-ide.' For CsF, the systematic name is cesium fluoride.
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