What is the correct formula of dinitrogen hexoxide?
A. [tex]$NO _3$[/tex]
B. [tex]$N _6 O _2$[/tex]
C. [tex]$N _2 O _6$[/tex]
D. [tex]$N _2 O _4$[/tex]
Answer (2)
'Di-' means two, so there are two nitrogen atoms ( N 2 ).
'Hexa-' means six, so there are six oxygen atoms ( O 6 ).
Combine these to get the formula for dinitrogen hexoxide.
The correct formula is N 2 O 6 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We need to identify the correct chemical formula for dinitrogen hexoxide. The name itself gives us a clue about the composition of the molecule.
Decoding the Name The prefix 'di-' indicates that there are two atoms of nitrogen in the molecule. The prefix 'hexa-' indicates that there are six atoms of oxygen in the molecule.
Determining the Formula Therefore, the chemical formula for dinitrogen hexoxide is N 2 O 6 .
Examples
In chemistry, naming compounds helps us understand their composition. For example, carbon dioxide ( C O 2 ) tells us there's one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Similarly, dinitrogen pentoxide ( N 2 O 5 ) indicates two nitrogen atoms and five oxygen atoms. Knowing how to interpret these names is crucial for understanding chemical reactions and the properties of different substances. This is used in various fields, such as environmental science to identify pollutants, in medicine to understand drug compositions, and in materials science to create new compounds.
The formula for dinitrogen hexoxide is N 2 O 6 , meaning there are two nitrogen atoms and six oxygen atoms in the compound. Therefore, the correct choice is option C.
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