Question

When we name a molecular binary compound which of the following is true?

a. The element which has more atoms in the molecule is named first.
b. We name the elements in alphabetical order.
c. We name the less electronegative element first.
d. We name the more electronegative element first.

Answer 1

In general, the less electronegative element is named first in a binary molecular compound. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. The order of element names is also influenced by their position on the periodic table.

Step-by-step explanation:

When naming a binary molecular compound, the less electronegative element is typically named first. However, there are a few exceptions to this. For example, carbon is always listed first and hydrogen is after nitrogen. Additionally, when there is only one atom of the first element in the molecule, the prefix 'mono' is not used. The order of element names is also determined by their position on the periodic table, with elements appearing to the left or lower being listed first in the name.