pentoxide

Thân thiện

A chemist carefully labels a bottle of phosphorus pentoxide in the laboratory.

Definition

Noun: A chemical compound that is an oxide containing exactly five oxygen atoms in each of its molecules.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Dinitrogen pentoxide is a common laboratory reagent.
  • Phosphorus pentoxide is a powerful dehydrating agent used in chemical synthesis.

Advanced Usage

• In chemical nomenclature, the prefix "penta-" indicates five, and "-oxide" indicates a compound of oxygen. Therefore, "pentoxide" systematically names oxides with a 5:1 ratio of oxygen atoms to the other element(s) in the basic molecular unit.
  • The formula for arsenic pentoxide is As₂O₁₀, which can be simplified to the empirical formula As₂O₅.

Variants and Related Words

• Dioxide (n): an oxide containing two oxygen atoms per molecule.
• Trioxide (n): an oxide containing three oxygen atoms per molecule.
• Tetroxide (n): an oxide containing four oxygen atoms per molecule.

Synonyms

• Pentaoxide: An alternative, less common spelling for the same class of compounds.

Notes on Meaning

• The term is specific to chemistry. It does not refer to a mixture or a substance with a variable composition, but to a distinct compound with a defined molecular structure containing five oxygen atoms.
• The other element(s) in the pentoxide can be a single nonmetal (e.g., phosphorus, nitrogen) or a combination of elements.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an oxide containing five atoms of oxygen in the molecule