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Chapter 8: Problem 18

Challenge What is the formula for diarsenic trioxide?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The formula for diarsenic trioxide is As2O3, which indicates two arsenic atoms and three oxygen atoms in the compound.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the elements and their symbols

In diarsenic trioxide, there are two elements: arsenic and oxygen. The chemical symbol for arsenic is As, and for oxygen, it is O.
02

Understand the prefixes

In the compound's name, there are two prefixes: di and tri. The prefix "di" means two, and the prefix "tri" means three. These prefixes indicate the number of atoms of each element in the compound.
03

Write the chemical formula by combining the symbols and their prefixes

Now, we combine the elements' symbols and their corresponding prefixes to write the chemical formula. The name diarsenic trioxide means there are two arsenic atoms (diarsenic) and three oxygen atoms (trioxide) in the compound. Therefore, the chemical formula would be As2O3.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Chemical Nomenclature
Understanding chemical nomenclature is crucial for scientists and students alike. It is the systematic naming of chemical compounds, which allows us to communicate information clearly and effectively.

Every chemical name has parts that reveal the elements within a compound and the number of atoms of each element. For instance, in diarsenic trioxide, 'di' and 'tri' give us the number of each element present. The nomenclature follows specific rules which enable anyone around the world to understand the compound's composition just from its name, regardless of their native language.
Chemical Symbols

Elements and Chemical Abbreviations

Chemical symbols are shorthand representations of elements based on either one or two letters, drawn from either their current English name or their Latin or Greek ancestry. For example, the symbol for arsenic is 'As', stemming from its Latin name 'arsenicum'. This standardization, as seen on the periodic table, helps maintain consistency in chemistry communication.

These symbols are the building blocks of chemical formulas, allowing scientists to concisely represent compounds. For instance, the compound diarsenic trioxide involves the symbols 'As' for arsenic and 'O' for oxygen.
Compound Naming Rules

Combining Symbols and Ratios

The rules for naming compounds involve combining the chemical symbols and using numeric prefixes to indicate the number of each type of atom present in a compound. Binary inorganic compounds, such as diarsenic trioxide, follow the rule of placing the cation (positive ion) before the anion (negative ion) and using prefixes like mono-, di-, tri-, etc., to show the atom count.

One important note is that 'mono-' is often omitted for the first element. In our example, we simply say diarsenic instead of monodiarsenic, and these standards preserve brevity while providing complete information about the compound's composition.
Chemical Prefixes

Understanding Quantities

Chemical prefixes are essential to grasp since they tell us about the quantity of each element in a compound. 'Mono-' signifies one, 'di-' two, 'tri-' three, and so on. These prefixes derive from Greek and are vital to proper chemical naming. In the case of diarsenic trioxide, 'di-' indicates two atoms of arsenic, and 'tri-' signifies three atoms of oxygen.

Using prefixes, chemists avoid ambiguity, ensuring that anyone who reads a chemical name can understand the exact formula. It's important for students to memorize these prefixes to excel in chemistry and accurately interpret chemical formulas.

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