`Chemistry really is another language sometimes. It abbreviates a lot, and chemi

Question

`Chemistry really is another language sometimes. It abbreviates a lot, and chemical formulas are a way to write a little and still convey a lot of information. For example, consider the chemicals mercury, cadmium (II) phosphate, Lead (II) hydroxide, and pentanitrogen decaoxide. Translate these names into chemical formulas using the appropriate procedure described in the course text and my lecture material. Answer the following: (1) What is the correct formula of each of these compounds? (2) Explain how exactly (i.e. the procedure used) you arrived at your answer...in other words, walk me through your thinking. You will not receive credit if you don't show your work in detail.

Explanation / Answer

Mercury

Latin word "hydrargyrum". So Hg (Hg symbol came from the latin name of mercury.

cadmium (II) phosphate

cadmium - Cd

cadmium (II) - Cd+2

Phosphate - PO43- (formal charge on phosphate is -3, these things you have to get in remember)

Now,

Cd+2 PO43-

Cadmium (II) phosphate is a neutral molecule. but the charge on cation (Cd) is +2 and anion (PO4) is -3. To neutralize the charges, we multiple Cd with 3 (total charge +6); and PO4 with 2 (total charge -6).

Hence

3Cd+2 2PO43-

So, Cd3(PO4)2

Lead (II) hydroxide

Lead - Latin name plumbum - Pb

Lead (II) -  Pb+2

Hydroxide - OH-

Pb+2 OH-

To neutralize the charge, we multiply OH- with two

Pb+2 2(OH-)

So, Pb(OH)2

Pentanitrogen decaoxide

Pentanitrogen - 5 Nitrogen = N5

Decaoxide - 10 Oxygen = O10

So, N5 O10

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