Question 6.11: Identify each of the following compounds as ionic or molecul...
Identify each of the following compounds as ionic or molecular and write its name:
a. NiSO_{4} b. SO_{3}
a. NiSO_{4}, consisting of a cation of a transition element and a polyatomic ion SO_{4}^{2-}. is an ionic compound. As a transition element, Ni forms more than one type of ion.
In this formula, the 2- charge of SO_{4}^{2-} is balanced by one nickel ion, Ni^{2+} In the name, a Roman numeral written after the metal name, nickel(II), specifies the 2+ charge. The anion SO_{4}^{2-} is a polyatomic ion named sulfate. The compound is named nickel(II) sulfate.
b. SO_{3} consists of two nonmetals, which indicates that it is a molecular compound. The first element S is sulfur (no prefix is needed). The second element O, oxide, has subscript 3, which requires a prefix tri in the name. The compound is named sulfur trioxide.