Question

Write a formula for the name or a name for the formula for the following covalent compound:

P₄S₆
Spell out the full name of the compound.
a) Phosphorus hexasulfide
b) Tetraphosphorus hexasulfide
c) Phosphorus sulfide
d) Tetraphosphorus sulfide

Answer 1

The correct name for the covalent compound P4S6 is tetraphosphorus hexasulfide.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct name for the covalent compound with the formula P4S6 is "tetraphosphorus hexasulfide". To name simple covalent compounds, you start with the name of the element closer to the left of the periodic table (in this case, phosphorus), followed by the name of the second element with the suffix –ide (in this case, sulfur becomes sulfide). We use prefixes to denote the numbers of atoms: tetra- (for four phosphorus atoms) and hexa- (for six sulfur atoms). Hence, the name tetraphosphorus hexasulfide corresponds to P4S6.