Question

determine the chemical formula of the covalent compounds listed below: 1. nitrogen triiodide 2. sulfur trioxide 3. carbon monoxide 4. phosphorus trichloride 5. sulfur hexafluoride

Explanation:

Step1: Recall naming - compound rules

Prefixes indicate the number of atoms. "mono -" is 1, "di -" is 2, "tri -" is 3, "hexa -" is 6.

Step2: Write formula for nitrogen triiodide

Nitrogen is N, iodine is I. Triiodide means 3 iodine atoms. So the formula is $NI_3$.

Step3: Write formula for sulfur trioxide

Sulfur is S, oxygen is O. Trioxide means 3 oxygen atoms. So the formula is $SO_3$.

Step4: Write formula for carbon monoxide

Carbon is C, oxygen is O. Mono - oxide means 1 oxygen atom. So the formula is $CO$.

Step5: Write formula for phosphorus trichloride

Phosphorus is P, chlorine is Cl. Trichloride means 3 chlorine atoms. So the formula is $PCl_3$.

Step6: Write formula for sulfur hexafluoride

Sulfur is S, fluorine is F. Hexa - fluoride means 6 fluorine atoms. So the formula is $SF_6$.

Answer:

1. $NI_3$
2. $SO_3$
3. $CO$
4. $PCl_3$
5. $SF_6$