Question

write the name of the following covalent compound: n₂o

Explanation:

Step1: Identify elements and prefixes

For covalent compounds, use prefixes (mono-, di-, tri-, etc.) based on subscripts. \(N_2\) means two nitrogen atoms (prefix "di-"), \(O\) means one oxygen atom (prefix "mono-", but "mono-" is often omitted for the first element? Wait, no: for the first element, if subscript is 1, no prefix; subscript >1, use prefix. For the second element, always use prefix (including mono-). Wait, correction: \(N_2O\) has 2 N (nitrogen) and 1 O (oxygen). The prefix for N (subscript 2) is "di-", for O (subscript 1) is "mono-". But the first element is nitrogen, second is oxygen (named as oxide).

Step2: Combine with prefixes

So, di - nitrogen mono - oxide. But commonly, "mono-" for the second element is sometimes simplified, but strictly, it's dinitrogen monoxide. Also known as nitrous oxide (common name), but the systematic covalent name is dinitrogen monoxide.

Answer:

dinitrogen monoxide (or nitrous oxide, but systematic covalent name is dinitrogen monoxide)