Hg(CN)

I don't know how to name this. I know that Hg is mercury and C is carbon and N is nitrogen.

The CN^- is a polyatomic ion named cyanide. So this would be named mercury(I) cyanide. The OLD name was mercurous cyanide.

Ohh.. thank you :)

To name the compound Hg(CN), you need to consider the valence or oxidation states of each element and use the appropriate naming conventions. Let's break it down step by step:

1. Identify the elements and their corresponding symbols:
- Hg: Mercury
- C: Carbon
- N: Nitrogen

2. Determine the valence or oxidation state of the elements:
- In this case, mercury (Hg) typically has a valence of +2.
- Carbon (C) generally has a valence of -4 or +4.
- Nitrogen (N) usually has a valence of -3 or +5.

3. Write the formula with the appropriate charges:
- Hg(CN): Since mercury has a valence of +2, it forms a cation with a charge of +2.
- To balance the charge, carbon and nitrogen must form an anion to compensate, resulting in a total charge of -2 for the compound.

4. Name the compound:
- To name the compound, we use the name of the cation followed by the name of the anion.
- The cation, Hg2+, is mercury(II).
- The anion, CN-, is called cyanide.

Putting it together, the compound Hg(CN) is named mercury(II) cyanide.

Remember, understanding the valence or oxidation state of each element is crucial in correctly naming chemical compounds.