For each row in the table below, decide whether the pair of elements will form a molecular compound held together by covalent chemical bonds. If the elements will form a molecular compound, check the box and enter the chemical formula and name of the compound. (If the elements will form more than one molecular compound, use the compound with the fewest total number of atoms.)
You may assume all chemical bonds are single bonds, not double or triple bonds.
| element #1 | element #2 | element pair will form a molecular compound | molecular compound |
|---|---|---|---|
| | | | chemical formula | name |
| magnesium | nitrogen | | |
| nitrogen | fluorine | | |
| hydrogen | bromine | | |
Answer (2)
Magnesium and nitrogen do not form a molecular compound because magnesium is a metal and nitrogen is a nonmetal.
Nitrogen and fluorine form nitrogen trifluoride ( N F 3 ​ ) because both are nonmetals and share electrons to achieve stable electron configurations.
Hydrogen and bromine form hydrogen bromide ( H B r ) because both are nonmetals and share electrons to achieve stable electron configurations.
The final answer is the completed table as described above.
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given a table with pairs of elements and need to determine if they form a molecular compound with covalent bonds. If a molecular compound is formed, we need to provide its chemical formula and name (choosing the compound with the fewest atoms if multiple compounds are possible). We assume all chemical bonds are single bonds. The element pairs are: magnesium and nitrogen, nitrogen and fluorine, hydrogen and bromine.
Magnesium and Nitrogen Magnesium (Mg) is a metal, and nitrogen (N) is a nonmetal. Metals and nonmetals typically form ionic compounds, not molecular compounds with covalent bonds. Therefore, magnesium and nitrogen will not form a molecular compound.
Nitrogen and Fluorine Nitrogen (N) and fluorine (F) are both nonmetals. Nonmetals can form molecular compounds with covalent bonds. Nitrogen needs 3 more electrons to complete its octet, and fluorine needs 1. Therefore, the chemical formula is N F 3 ​ . The name is nitrogen trifluoride.
Hydrogen and Bromine Hydrogen (H) and bromine (Br) are both nonmetals. Nonmetals can form molecular compounds with covalent bonds. Hydrogen needs 1 more electron to complete its duet, and bromine needs 1. Therefore, the chemical formula is H B r . The name is hydrogen bromide.
Final Answer Here's the completed table:
element #1
element #2
element pair will form a molecular compound
molecular compound
chemical formula
name
magnesium
nitrogen
No
nitrogen
fluorine
Yes
N F 3 ​
nitrogen trifluoride
hydrogen
bromine
Yes
H B r
hydrogen bromide
Examples
Understanding how elements combine to form compounds is crucial in many real-world applications. For example, in the development of new materials, chemists need to know which elements will bond together and what properties those compounds will have. In the pharmaceutical industry, understanding molecular compounds helps in designing drugs that interact with specific molecules in the body. Also, in environmental science, knowing how pollutants form helps in developing strategies to mitigate their impact.
Magnesium and nitrogen do not form a molecular compound, while nitrogen and fluorine form nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃), and hydrogen and bromine form hydrogen bromide (HBr).
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