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Think You Can Master Binary Molecular Compounds? Take the Quiz!

Curious about what is a binary molecular compound? Dive into the quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration showing stylized molecules and binary molecular compounds quiz on a golden yellow background

Put your knowledge of binary molecular compounds to the test with our free Binary Molecular Compounds Quiz: Test Your Chemistry IQ! Curious what is a binary molecular compound or eager to nail binary compound naming? You'll master the binary molecular compound formula rules and explore binary molecular compounds examples as you advance. Instant feedback and clear explanations will reinforce each concept before you move on. Want extra practice? Try our molecular formulas workshop to sharpen formulas, then tackle the molecular naming challenge . Ready to level up your chemistry IQ? Start now and see how far you can go!

What is the chemical formula for carbon tetrachloride?
CCl4
CCl2
C2Cl4
CCl3
Carbon tetrachloride consists of one carbon atom bonded to four chlorine atoms, giving the formula CCl4. Both elements are nonmetals, so Greek prefixes are used in the name. The prefix mono- is omitted for the first element when only one atom is present. For more details on naming conventions, see Naming Binary Molecular Compounds.
What is the systematic IUPAC name for the compound with the formula N2O?
Nitrogen dioxide
Nitrogen monoxide
Dinitrogen monoxide
Mononitrogen oxide
N2O contains two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. According to IUPAC rules, use di- for two and mono- for one, and retain the mono- prefix on the second element. Therefore, the correct name is dinitrogen monoxide. See more at Binary Molecular Nomenclature.
Which prefix indicates five atoms in the name of a binary molecular compound?
Hexa-
Tri-
Tetra-
Penta-
The Greek prefix for five is penta-. It is used in names like phosphorus pentachloride (PCl5) or sulfur pentafluoride (SF5). Using correct prefixes is essential for clear communication of composition. More information is available at Greek Prefixes in Chemistry.
In naming binary molecular compounds, which element is written first in the chemical formula?
The element that comes last alphabetically
The element with higher electronegativity
The element with lower electronegativity
The element with greater atomic mass
The convention for binary molecular compounds is to list the less electronegative element first in the formula, followed by the more electronegative one. This rule helps indicate the bond polarity and order of elements. For a detailed explanation, see Ordering Elements in Binary Compounds.
What is the correct name for the compound with the formula P2O5?
Phosphorus pentaoxide
Diphosphorus pentoxide
Monophosphorus pentaoxide
Phosphorus pentoxide
P2O5 has two phosphorus atoms and five oxygen atoms. Using the di- prefix for two and penta- for five gives diphosphorus pentoxide. The common name phosphorus pentoxide is less systematic. For more on naming phosphorus oxides, refer to Phosphorus Oxide Nomenclature.
What is the chemical formula for sulfur hexafluoride?
SF6
S2F6
SF4
SF5
Sulfur hexafluoride consists of one sulfur atom and six fluorine atoms, giving the formula SF6. The prefix hexa- indicates six fluorine atoms. For more information, see EPA on Sulfur Hexafluoride.
What is the systematic name for the compound with formula N2O3?
Nitrogen trioxide
Dinitrogen oxide
Dinitrogen trioxide
Di-nitrogen trioxide
N2O3 contains two nitrogen atoms and three oxygen atoms. Applying di- for two and tri- for three gives dinitrogen trioxide. Systematic naming ensures accurate stoichiometry in the name. More details at Binary Covalent Compound Names.
Write the chemical formula for dinitrogen tetroxide.
N2O3
N2O4
N4O2
NO4
Dinitrogen tetroxide contains two nitrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms, giving the formula N2O4. The prefixes di- and tetra- directly correspond to these counts. For further reading, visit Naming Binary Molecular Compounds.
What is the molecular formula of phosphorus trioxide as it exists in nature?
P4O3
P4O6
P2O6
P2O3
Phosphorus trioxide commonly exists as P4O6, not the empirical P2O3, due to its tetrahedral P4 core bonded to six oxygens. This molecular formula reflects the actual discrete molecule observed. For more on phosphorus oxide structures, see Phosphorus Trioxide Structure.
A compound has an empirical formula of CH2O and a molar mass of 180 g/mol. What is its molecular formula?
C6H6O6
C6H12O6
C3H6O3
C12H24O12
The empirical mass of CH2O is 30 g/mol. Dividing the molar mass (180 g/mol) by the empirical mass (30 g/mol) gives a factor of 6. Multiplying each subscript by 6 yields C6H12O6. See Empirical and Molecular Formulas.
Which naming rule regarding Greek prefixes is correct for binary molecular compounds?
The prefix di- is only used when the second element begins with a vowel
The prefixes tetra- and penta- can be interchanged
The prefix hexa- indicates seven atoms
The prefix mono- is omitted for the first element
In binary molecular nomenclature, the prefix mono- is omitted for the first element when only one atom of that element is present. However, it is retained for the second element if there is only one atom. Other prefixes have fixed meanings and are not interchangeable. For more, see Greek Prefixes Usage.
What is the correct chemical formula for disulfur decafluoride?
S2F10
S10F2
S2F5
SF10
Disulfur decafluoride contains two sulfur atoms (di-) and ten fluorine atoms (deca-), giving the formula S2F10. Each prefix directly corresponds to the subscript in the formula. For additional context, see PubChem Disulfur Decafluoride.
What is the correct IUPAC name for the compound with the formula CClF3?
Carbon chloride trifluoride
Monochlorotrifluoride
Chlorotrifluoromethane
Trichloromonofluoride
CClF3 is treated as a substituted methane: one chloro and three fluoro substituents. Alphabetical order of substituents places chloro before fluoro, giving chlorotrifluoromethane. This follows IUPAC rules for naming halogenated methanes. For a detailed IUPAC guide, see IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Define binary molecular compounds -

    Describe what is a binary molecular compound and distinguish it from ionic or polyatomic compounds.

  2. Identify compound components -

    Recognize and classify elements that form binary molecular compounds based on their positions in the periodic table.

  3. Apply binary molecular compound formula rules -

    Use Greek prefixes and element symbols to construct accurate binary molecular compound formulas.

  4. Practice binary compound naming -

    Master binary compound naming conventions to convert formulas into correct systematic names.

  5. Analyze binary molecular compounds examples -

    Examine real-world binary molecular compounds to reinforce understanding and avoid common naming mistakes.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Defining Binary Molecular Compounds -

    Binary molecular compounds are composed of exactly two nonmetal elements connected by covalent bonds, distinguishing them from ionic salts. These compounds rely on shared electron pairs rather than electrostatic attraction, so they often have lower melting points than ionic compounds (University of Oxford, Inorganic Chemistry). Understanding what is a binary molecular compound is the first step to mastering their formulas and names.

  2. Binary Compound Naming Rules -

    In binary compound naming, use Greek prefixes (mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, etc.) to denote atom counts, omitting "mono-" on the first element (IUPAC recommendations). For example, CO₂ becomes carbon dioxide and PCl₅ becomes phosphorus pentachloride, making binary compound naming systematic.

  3. Writing Binary Molecular Compound Formulas -

    To write a binary molecular compound formula, reverse the prefixes into subscripts: dinitrogen tetroxide is N₂O₄ and sulfur hexafluoride is SF₆ (MIT OpenCourseWare). A handy mnemonic for the first five prefixes is "My Dad Tried Tacos Previously," linking mono- to penta-.

  4. Common Binary Molecular Compounds Examples -

    Familiarize yourself with examples like carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃) to see how naming and formulas align in practice (Royal Society of Chemistry). Reviewing binary molecular compounds examples solidifies your command of both formula writing and naming conventions.

  5. Avoiding Common Pitfalls -

    Watch for pitfalls like misplacing prefixes or dropping "mono-" on the first element, and always list the more electropositive element first (American Chemical Society guidelines). Practice by converting between names and formulas - e.g., phosphorus trichloride (PCl₃) ↔ PCl₃ - to build confidence and accuracy.

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