Naming Covalent Bonds
Write the names of both elements. Change the final ending to -ide. Add prefixes to indicate subscripts. Only use mono- prefix with oxide. Molecular Names
Write the more metallic element first. The one that is more to the left. If they are in the same column, the one that is higher goes first. Hydrogen acts like it is above fluorine in a covalent bond. Add subscripts according to prefixes. Molecular Formulas
PREFIX mon- di- tri- tetra- penta- hexa- hepta- SUBSCRIPT Molecular Names
CCl 4 N 2 O SF 6 carbon tetrachloride dinitrogen monoxide sulfur hexafluoride Molecular Names
phosphorus trichloride dinitrogen pentaoxide dihydrogen monoxide PCl 3 N 2 O 5 H 2 O Molecular Formulas
The Seven Diatomic Elements Br 2 I 2 N 2 Cl 2 H 2 O 2 F 2 Molecular Formulas
Diatomic Molecules Diatomic means that there are 2 of the same atom. These elements can not exist in nature as a single atom. They have to be 2.