A binary compound is defined as which of the following?

A binary compound is defined as which of the following?

• A. Contains three elements.
• B. Contains two different elements.
• C. Is always a gas.
• D. Contains only one element.

Answer: (B)

Binary compounds are defined by having two different elements in their composition. The important point is that the term refers to two element types, not to a specific number of atoms, so a compound like H2O contains hydrogen and oxygen and is binary even though it has three atoms total. That’s why this option is the best answer: two different elements present. The other ideas don’t fit. If a substance contains three elements, it’s a ternary compound, not binary. If it contains only one element, it isn’t a compound of two elements. And binary compounds aren’t restricted to gases; they can be solids, liquids, or gases (for example, NaCl is a solid at room temperature).

Binary compounds are defined by having two different elements in their composition. The important point is that the term refers to two element types, not to a specific number of atoms, so a compound like H2O contains hydrogen and oxygen and is binary even though it has three atoms total. That’s why this option is the best answer: two different elements present.

The other ideas don’t fit. If a substance contains three elements, it’s a ternary compound, not binary. If it contains only one element, it isn’t a compound of two elements. And binary compounds aren’t restricted to gases; they can be solids, liquids, or gases (for example, NaCl is a solid at room temperature).