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Chapter 3: Problem 1

Which of the following are diatomic molecules? (a) \(\mathrm{HCl}\) (b) \(\mathrm{O}_{2}\) (c) \(\mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}\) (d) \(\mathrm{P}_{4}\) (e) \(\mathrm{SiO}_{2}\) (f) \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{2}\) (g) \(\mathrm{CH}_{4}\) (h) CIF

Short Answer

Expert verified
The diatomic molecules are \( \mathrm{HCl} \), \( \mathrm{O}_{2} \), and \( \mathrm{CIF} \).

Step by step solution

01

Define Diatomic Molecules

Diatomic molecules are molecules composed of only two atoms. These atoms can be either the same element or different elements.
02

Evaluate Each Option

Check each molecular formula to determine if it consists of two atoms.
03

Check \(\mathrm{HCl}\)

\( \mathrm{HCl} \) consists of two atoms: one hydrogen (H) and one chlorine (Cl). Therefore, it is a diatomic molecule.
04

Check \(\mathrm{O}_{2}\)

\( \mathrm{O}_{2} \) consists of two oxygen (O) atoms. Therefore, it is a diatomic molecule.
05

Check \(\mathrm{N}_{2} \, \mathrm{O}\)

\( \mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O} \) consists of three atoms: two nitrogen (N) and one oxygen (O). Therefore, it is not a diatomic molecule.
06

Check \(\mathrm{P}_{4}\)

\( \mathrm{P}_{4} \) consists of four phosphorus (P) atoms. Therefore, it is not a diatomic molecule.
07

Check \(\mathrm{SiO}_{2}\)

\( \mathrm{SiO}_{2} \) consists of three atoms: one silicon (Si) and two oxygen (O). Therefore, it is not a diatomic molecule.
08

Check \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{2}\)

\( \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{2} \) consists of four atoms: two hydrogen (H) and two oxygen (O). Therefore, it is not a diatomic molecule.
09

Check \(\mathrm{CH}_{4}\)

\( \mathrm{CH}_{4} \) consists of five atoms: one carbon (C) and four hydrogen (H). Therefore, it is not a diatomic molecule.
10

Check \(\mathrm{CIF}\)

\( \mathrm{CIF} \) consists of two atoms: one carbon (C) and one fluorine (F). Therefore, it is a diatomic molecule.

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Key Concepts

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

molecular formulas
A molecular formula represents the actual number and types of atoms in a molecule. It does not show how atoms are arranged but provides essential information about the element composition. For example, \(\text{HCl}\) has hydrogen (H) and chlorine (Cl) atoms. Similarly, \(\text{O\textsubscript{2}}\) indicates two oxygen atoms are bonded together. Understanding molecular formulas helps in identifying whether a molecule is diatomic, meaning it only contains two atoms.
element composition
Element composition refers to the types and numbers of each element in a molecule. For diatomic molecules, only two atoms are present. These atoms can either be the same (homonuclear) or different elements (heteronuclear).
  • Homonuclear: \(\text{O\textsubscript{2}}\) consists of two oxygen atoms.
  • Heteronuclear: \(\text{HCl}\), which has one hydrogen and one chlorine atom.
Understanding the element composition helps in predicting chemical behavior and bonding.
chemical bonding
Chemical bonding involves the joining of atoms to form molecules. This can include covalent bonding, where atoms share electrons.
In diatomic molecules, the types of chemical bonds vary:
  • Covalent Bond: Two atoms share electrons equally or unequally, such as in \(\text{O\textsubscript{2}}\) and \(\text{HCl}\).
  • Polar Covalent Bond: One atom attracts the shared electrons more, creating partial charges, as seen in \(\text{HCl}\).
Knowing the type of chemical bonding helps to understand a molecule’s properties and reactivity.

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