Part D What is the name of the molecular compound SeF
? Enter the name of the compound. View Available Hint(s) Submit
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Selenium hexafluoride
The correct name for the molecular compound with the formula SeF₆ is selenium hexafluoride. This name is derived using the established rules of nomenclature for binary molecular compounds, which are compounds formed from two nonmetal elements.
The naming convention for these compounds is systematic and descriptive. Here is a breakdown of how the name is constructed:
- Identify the Elements: The compound contains selenium (Se) and fluorine (F). Both are nonmetals, confirming it is a molecular compound.
- Name the First Element: The first element in the formula (Se) is named using its full element name, which is “selenium”. According to the rules, a prefix is not used for the first element if there is only one atom of it. Since the formula shows only one selenium atom, we simply use “selenium”.
- Name the Second Element: The second element (F) is named by taking the root of its name (“fluor-“) and adding the suffix “-ide”. This gives us “fluoride”.
- Use Prefixes to Indicate Quantity: Greek prefixes are used to specify the number of atoms for each element. The subscript ‘6’ on the fluorine atom indicates there are six fluorine atoms. The prefix for six is “hexa-“. This prefix is attached to the name of the second element.
Combining these steps, the name becomes “selenium” for the first part and “hexafluoride” for the second part. Putting them together yields the full name: selenium hexafluoride.
