Question

Consider a mystery compound having the formula MxTy. If the compound is not an acid, if it contains only two elements, and if M is not a metal, which of the following is true about the compound? (1 point)
It contains a polyatomic ion.
Its name ends in -ite or -ate.
Its name ends in -ic.
It is a binary molecular compound.

Answer 1

It contains a polyatomic ion.

Answer 2

Tricky. I would have to say this problem isn't well worded. I think you're supposed to assume T is not a metal either, and that "contains" doesn't include the case that the compound is itself a polyatomic ion. (If nothing else, there's no indication of charge on the formula.) If that's the case, then...

(1) It can't contain a polyatomic ion, because there aren't enough elements. You need at least two elements for the polyatomic ion, then one more element for the other ion. For example NH4Cl (polyatomic cation NH4+) or CaCO3 (polyatomic anion CO3-2).

(2) The name, if an IUPAC name, won't end in -ite or -ate because those are reserved for oxyanions, which are polyatomic ions.

(3) The name won't end in "-ic" because those are reserved for binary acids, and you've been told this isn't an acid.

(4) It could well be a binary molecular compound.