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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: unsavedhero on October 06, 2013, 03:22:04 PM

Title: Is P4S10 called Tetraphosphorus Decasulfide or Phosphorus Pentasulfide
Post by: unsavedhero on October 06, 2013, 03:22:04 PM

I have to name a compound who's formula is P₄S₁₀. My first guess was Tetraphosphorus Decasulfide because there are 4P and 10S. However after looking it up, google said the name is Phosphorus Pentasulfide which seems like the empirical formula name. So what do I really call it?

Title: Re: Is P4S10 called Tetraphosphorus Decasulfide or Phosphorus Pentasulfide
Post by: Hunter2 on October 08, 2013, 04:50:14 AM

The first one is correct, because the molecule contain 4 phosphorous and 10 sulfur.
The first one was used in the passed, because P₂S₅ already fits to balance the oxidation numbers. See the same for the Oxide with phosphorous.