The following table lists the most common prefixes for binary covalent compounds.
Number of Atoms | Prefix |
---|---|
1 | mono- |
2 | di- |
3 | tri- |
4 | tetra- |
5 | penta- |
6 | hexa- |
7 | hepta- |
8 | octa- |
9 | nona- |
10 | deca- |
Take a look at the following examples to see how to use the prefixes when naming binary covalent compounds (the prefixes appear in bold). Note that chemists try to avoid putting an a and an o together with the oxide name, as in decaoxide, so they normally drop the a off the prefix. carbon dioxide:
![image0.png](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/168012.image0.png)
tetraphosphorus decoxide:
![image1.png](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/168013.image1.png)
sulfur trioxide:
![image2.png](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/168014.image2.png)
dinitrogen tetroxide:
![image3.png](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/168015.image3.png)
This naming system is used only with binary, nonmetal compounds, with one exception. The following compound is commonly called manganese dioxide.
![image4.png](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/168016.image4.png)