in which of the following pairs of compiunds are both members of the pair ionic compounds?
a) PI3 and HBr, b) H2S and NCl3, c)LiF and H2O, d)LiI and NiO
I guess d. The others are not.
To determine whether a pair of compounds is ionic or not, we need to understand the nature of ionic compounds. Ionic compounds are formed when there is a transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of ions with opposite charges. The positively charged ions are called cations, and the negatively charged ions are called anions.
Now, let's evaluate each pair of compounds:
a) PI3 and HBr:
To determine if these compounds are ionic, we need to look at the electronegativity difference between the elements. Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond. If the electronegativity difference between the elements is high, it is likely that the compound is ionic. Phosphorus (P) and Bromine (Br) have similar electronegativities, so PI3 and HBr are not ionic compounds.
b) H2S and NCl3:
Again, we need to compare the electronegativity difference between the elements. Hydrogen (H), Sulfur (S), Nitrogen (N), and Chlorine (Cl) all have different electronegativities. However, the electronegativity difference is not high enough to classify H2S and NCl3 as ionic compounds.
c) LiF and H2O:
Lithium (Li) and Fluorine (F) have a considerable electronegativity difference. This difference indicates that LiF is an ionic compound. On the other hand, H2O is a covalent compound because the electronegativity difference between Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O) is low.
d) LiI and NiO:
Similar to the previous case, Lithium (Li) and Iodine (I) have a significant electronegativity difference, classifying LiI as an ionic compound. For Nickel (Ni) and Oxygen (O), the electronegativity difference is high enough, indicating that NiO is also an ionic compound.
Based on the analysis above, the correct answer is:
d) LiI and NiO