Final answer:
Chemical symbols represent elements and are used to correctly spell the names of atoms. Compounds use prefixes to indicate the number of atoms and change the second element's name to end in '-ide.',
Step-by-step explanation:
Diatomic molecules are represented with subscripts to indicate the number of atoms. To spell the name of an atom correctly, it is important to use the right chemical symbols and conventions. Atoms are denoted by symbols based on either their English name or Latin origin. For example, the symbol for carbon is 'C', for oxygen is 'O', and for hydrogen is 'H'. When it comes to chemical compounds, understanding the prefixes and how to apply them is crucial. For instance, the compound with the molecular formula NCI3 is named nitrogen trichloride, denoting one nitrogen atom and three chlorine atoms. Similarly, P2O5 is named diphosphorus pentoxide, indicating there are two phosphorus atoms and five oxygen atoms in the compound.
It's also noteworthy that the prefix 'mono-' is not used for the first element if it is the only atom present, and suffixes such as '-oxide' replace the ending of the second element. Remember that the 'a' or 'o' is dropped from the prefix when the element's name starts with a vowel. Thus, we write 'tetroxide' instead of 'tetraoxide'. Lastly, diatomic molecules like hydrogen are represented as H₂ to indicate the molecule is composed of two hydrogen atoms.