Question

Which of the following does NOT apply when naming binary covalent compounds?

A) The first nonmetal is assigned a prefix only when there is more than one atom of that element.
B) The second nonmetal always gets assigned a prefix.
C) The ending of the second nonmetal name is changed to -ide.
D) Criss-cross then name the cation and anion.

Answer 1

The incorrect statement for naming binary covalent compounds is 'Criss-cross then name the cation and anion,' as this applies to ionic compounds. Binary covalent compounds use prefixes for quantity and '-ide' for the second nonmetal.

Step-by-step explanation:

When naming binary covalent compounds, the statement that does NOT apply is "Criss-cross then name the cation and anion". This method applies to ionic compounds, not covalent compounds. In covalent compounds, the first nonmetal is written first and is assigned a prefix only if there is more than one atom. The second nonmetal is always assigned a prefix and its name ends with the suffix '-ide'.