To determine the chemical name of the compound KCN, we need to identify the ions that make up the compound.
1. Identify the elements in the formula KCN:
- The chemical formula KCN consists of the elements Potassium (K), Carbon (C), and Nitrogen (N).
2. Determine the cation:
- K is the symbol for Potassium, which is a metal from group 1 (alkali metals) in the periodic table. Potassium typically forms a cation with a charge of +1, represented as [tex]\( K^+ \)[/tex].
3. Determine the anion:
- CN is a polyatomic ion known as Cyanide. From the list of polyatomic ions, cyanide is represented as [tex]\( CN^- \)[/tex].
4. Combine the cation and the anion:
- The compound KCN is formed by the combination of [tex]\( K^+ \)[/tex] (Potassium ion) and [tex]\( CN^- \)[/tex] (Cyanide ion).
5. Name the compound:
- Following the standard naming convention for ionic compounds, the cation (Potassium) is named first, followed by the name of the anion (Cyanide).
Therefore, the correct name for the compound KCN is potassium cyanide.
Given the options:
A. potassium carbon nitrate
B. potassium carbon nitride
C. potassium cyanate
D. potassium cyanide
E. potassium monocarbon mononitride
The correct answer is:
D. potassium cyanide
