Question

select the correct answer. what is the chemical name of the compound kcn? use the list of polyatomic ions and the periodic table to help you answer. a. potassium carbon nitrate b. potassium carbon nitride c. potassium cyanate d. potassium cyanide e. potassium monocarbon mononitride

Explanation:

To determine the chemical name of KCN, we analyze the ions. K⁺ is the potassium ion. The polyatomic ion here is CN⁻, which is the cyanide ion. When naming an ionic compound, we name the cation (potassium) first, then the anion (cyanide). So the compound is potassium cyanide. Option A is incorrect as there's no "carbon nitrate" ion. Option B's "carbon nitride" is not the correct ion. Option C's cyanate is OCN⁻, not CN⁻. Option E uses a molecular naming approach for an ionic compound, which is wrong.

Answer:

D. potassium cyanide