Are acids like ascorbic acid and palmitic acid ionic, molecular, or covalent network compounds
They are essentially covalent bonds but all of these acids ionize slightly in H2O solution.
Ascorbic acid and palmitic acid are both molecular compounds. Molecular compounds are formed by sharing electrons between the atoms in a covalent bond. In both ascorbic acid and palmitic acid, the atoms are held together by covalent bonds, making them molecular compounds.
To determine whether acids like ascorbic acid and palmitic acid are ionic, molecular, or covalent network compounds, we need to examine their molecular structures and the nature of the chemical bonds present.
Ascorbic acid (C₆H₈O₆) is a common vitamin known as Vitamin C. It has a molecular structure that consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms bonded together covalently. The bonds between the atoms within the molecule are covalent bonds, which involve the sharing of electrons between atoms. Therefore, ascorbic acid is a molecular compound.
On the other hand, palmitic acid (C₁₆H₃₂O₂) is a fatty acid commonly found in animal fats and vegetable oils. Like ascorbic acid, palmitic acid also consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. However, in palmitic acid, the carbon atoms form a long hydrocarbon chain, with a carboxylic acid (COOH) functional group at one end. The carbon-carbon bonds in the hydrocarbon chain of palmitic acid are covalent, while the bond between the carbon and the oxygen in the carboxylic acid group is also covalent. Hence, palmitic acid is also a molecular compound.
In both cases, since there are no ions present and the compounds are composed of discrete molecules held together by covalent bonds, the acids are categorized as molecular compounds, not ionic or covalent network compounds.