Why is As2S3 Named Arsenic Trisulfide?

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Arsenic trisulfide, or As2S3, is named using the prefix "tri-" to indicate the presence of three sulfur atoms, despite arsenic being a metalloid. This naming convention helps differentiate it from other arsenic sulfides, such as AsS (arsenic monosulfide) and As2S5 (arsenic pentasulfide). The use of prefixes is standard in chemical nomenclature for clarity, even when non-metals are involved. Therefore, the correct name reflects both the composition and the specific type of compound. Understanding these naming rules is essential for accurately identifying chemical substances.
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I thought that because Arsenic is not a non-metal, you don't use the number prefixes when naming compounds that are not non-metals. So my guess for As2S3 was Arsenic sulfide. But the actual answer is Arsenic trisulfide. Why is this?

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Arsenic sulfide
 
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zachem62 said:
Why is this?
Distinguishes it from the di- and penta-sulfides, AsS and As2S5.
 

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