Question

What is the formula for silicon tetrachloride?

a
SiCl4
Ob
Si4Cl
С
Si₂C14
Od
SigCl₂

Answer 1

`\boxed {\boxed {\sf A. \ SiCl_4}}`

Step-by-step explanation:

We are given the compound name: silicon tetrachloride.

Silicon is a metalloid and chlorine is a nonmetal, therefore we must use the rules of molecular compounds. Molecular compounds use prefixes to name the compounds. Break up the compound into 2 parts.

1. Silicon

The first element: silicon, has no prefix. Therefore, a prefix of mono (1) is implied.

2. Tetrachloride

The -ide suffix is added to the second element, so this is really chlorine. The prefix of tetra means 4.

So there is 1 silicon (Si) atom and 4 chlorine (Cl) atoms. The formula must be SiCl₄