benzoic acid: covalent

magnesium chloride: ionic
petrolatum: covalent
potassium iodide: ionic
sodium sulfate: ionic
sucrose: covalent

try to use the electron dot diagram to check your answer!

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To determine whether a compound is covalent or ionic, you need to consider the types of atoms involved and the difference in their electronegativity values.

1. Benzoic acid (C7H6O2): This compound consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Carbon and hydrogen tend to form covalent bonds due to their similar electronegativity values. Oxygen, on the other hand, is more electronegative than carbon and hydrogen, but the difference in electronegativity is not significant enough to form an ionic bond. Therefore, benzoic acid is a covalent compound.

2. Magnesium chloride (MgCl2): This compound consists of magnesium and chlorine atoms. Magnesium is a metal, which tends to lose electrons and form positive ions. Chlorine is a nonmetal, which tends to gain electrons and form negative ions. The large difference in electronegativity between these elements leads to the formation of an ionic bond. Hence, magnesium chloride is an ionic compound.

3. Petrolatum: Petrolatum is primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Just like benzoic acid, carbon and hydrogen tend to form covalent bonds due to their similar electronegativity values. Therefore, petrolatum is a covalent compound.

4. Potassium iodide (KI): This compound consists of potassium and iodine atoms. Similar to the magnesium chloride example, potassium is a metal and iodine is a nonmetal. The difference in electronegativity between the two is large enough to form an ionic bond. Thus, potassium iodide is an ionic compound.

5. Sodium sulfate (Na2SO4): This compound is composed of sodium, sulfur, and oxygen atoms. Sodium is a metal, while sulfur and oxygen are nonmetals. The large difference in electronegativity leads to the formation of ionic bonds. Therefore, sodium sulfate is an ionic compound.

6. Sucrose (C12H22O11): This compound consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. The bonds between these atoms are primarily covalent because carbon and hydrogen have similar electronegativity values. Although oxygen is more electronegative, the difference is not significant enough to form an ionic bond. Thus, sucrose is a covalent compound.