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Ch.3 - Mass Relationships in Chemical Reactions
Chapter 3, Problem 163

Name the following binary compounds of sulfur and oxygen: (a) SO (b) S2O2 (c) S5O (d) S7O2 (e) SO3

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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 the context of the question, sulfur (S) and oxygen (O) are the two elements forming various compounds. Understanding how to name these compounds involves recognizing the elements involved and applying the appropriate nomenclature rules for binary compounds.
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Nomenclature Rules

The nomenclature of binary compounds follows specific rules, such as using prefixes to indicate the number of atoms of each element. For example, 'mono-' for one, 'di-' for two, and 'tri-' for three. These prefixes help in naming compounds like SO (sulfur monoxide) and SO3 (sulfur trioxide), ensuring clarity in communication about chemical substances.
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Oxidation States

Oxidation states indicate the degree of oxidation of an atom in a compound. In naming sulfur-oxygen compounds, knowing the common oxidation states of sulfur (which can vary) helps in determining the correct name. For instance, in SO3, sulfur has an oxidation state of +6, which is crucial for understanding its chemical behavior and naming conventions.
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