Give the name or chemical formula, as appropriate, for each of the following binary molecular substances: (f) tetraphosphorus hexasulfide.

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Step 1: Identify the elements in the compound. In this case, we have phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S).

Step 2: The prefix 'tetra-' in 'tetraphosphorus' indicates that there are four atoms of phosphorus. So, we write this as P4.

Step 3: The prefix 'hexa-' in 'hexasulfide' indicates that there are six atoms of sulfur. So, we write this as S6.

Step 4: Combine the symbols and subscripts to write the chemical formula. In this case, the chemical formula for tetraphosphorus hexasulfide is P4S6.

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Key Concepts

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

Binary Molecular Compounds

Binary molecular compounds consist of two different nonmetals. They are named using prefixes to indicate the number of atoms of each element present in the compound. For example, 'tetra-' indicates four atoms, while 'hexa-' indicates six atoms. The first element retains its full name, while the second element's name is modified to end in '-ide'.

Chemical Nomenclature

Chemical nomenclature is the system of naming chemical compounds. In the case of binary molecular compounds, the names are derived from the elements involved and their respective quantities. The use of Greek prefixes (like 'tetra-' for four and 'hexa-' for six) helps convey the exact composition of the compound, ensuring clarity in communication among chemists.

Chemical Formulas

A chemical formula represents the composition of a compound using symbols for the elements and numerical subscripts to indicate the number of atoms of each element. For tetraphosphorus hexasulfide, the formula is P4S6, where 'P' stands for phosphorus and 'S' stands for sulfur. Understanding how to derive and interpret chemical formulas is essential for accurately conveying the identity of a substance.

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