Which statement best describes a compound formed by an ionic bond?
neutral
contains multiple charges
positively charged
negatively charged
C?
The correct answer is "neutral."
To understand why, let's discuss ionic bonds and the formation of compounds.
An ionic bond is a type of chemical bond that occurs between ions of opposite charges. In an ionic bond, one atom donates electrons to another atom, resulting in the formation of positive and negative ions. These ions are attracted to each other and form a strong bond due to the electrostatic attraction between opposite charges.
When these ions combine, they form an ionic compound. This compound is typically made up of a metal and a non-metal, although there are exceptions. The metal atom donates one or more electrons to the non-metal atom, resulting in the formation of a positively charged metal ion and a negatively charged non-metal ion.
The key point to note is that the charges of the ions in an ionic compound cancel each other out, resulting in a compound that is neutral overall. This means that the positive and negative charges are balanced in the compound, leading to a net charge of zero.
So, when we describe a compound formed by an ionic bond, the most accurate statement would be "neutral."