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Ch.3 - Molecules, Compounds & Chemical Equations
Chapter 3, Problem 47

Name each molecular compound. a. CO b. NI3 c. SiCl4 d. N4Se4

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Key Concepts

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

Molecular Compounds

Molecular compounds are formed when two or more nonmetals bond together by sharing electrons. They typically have distinct properties, such as lower melting and boiling points compared to ionic compounds. The naming of molecular compounds often involves using prefixes to indicate the number of atoms of each element present in the compound.
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Naming Conventions

The naming of molecular compounds follows specific conventions, primarily using prefixes to denote the number of atoms. For example, 'mono-' for one, 'di-' for two, 'tri-' for three, and so on. The first element in the compound is named first, followed by the second element, which is modified to end in '-ide'.
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Chemical Symbols and Formulas

Chemical symbols represent elements, while chemical formulas indicate the composition of a compound. For instance, 'CO' represents carbon monoxide, where 'C' is carbon and 'O' is oxygen. Understanding these symbols and how they combine is essential for correctly identifying and naming molecular compounds.
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