Two nonmetals form a covalent bond/covalent compound.
To name this compound, put names of the two elements being bonded one after the other. For the element that goes second, change the ending into -ide. Put a prefix before the element name for the number of atoms of that element in the compound. The first 10 are listed:
1 = mono-
2 = di-
3 = tri-
4 = tetra-
5 = penta-
6 = hexa-
7 = hepta-
8 = octa-
9 = nona-
10 = deca-
However, if there is only one atom of the element that goes first in the name, do not put mono- before it.
Back to the problem:
The name of the carbon compound with one carbon and two oxygens is:
1) Write the name of the elements present (with most electropositive = closer to left side of periodic table, first):
carbon oxygen
2) Change the ending of the second element to -ide
carbon oxide
3) There is only one atom of carbon, so it will not have a prefix. There are two atoms of oxygen, so add the prefix di-.
carbon dioxide
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Answer: B) Carbon Dioxide
