Listed below are several compound formulas. Identify whether each is ionic or covalent.
Question 1 options:
CO2
Na2CO3
SF4
CuSO4
NaCl
CH4O
1.
IONIC COMPOUND
2.
COVALENT COMPOUND
1. CO2 - COVALENT COMPOUND
2. Na2CO3 - IONIC COMPOUND
3. SF4 - COVALENT COMPOUND
4. CuSO4 - IONIC COMPOUND
5. NaCl - IONIC COMPOUND
6. CH4O - COVALENT COMPOUND
1. CO2 - CO2 is a covalent compound.
2. Na2CO3 - Na2CO3 is an ionic compound.
3. SF4 - SF4 is a covalent compound.
4. CuSO4 - CuSO4 is an ionic compound.
5. NaCl - NaCl is an ionic compound.
6. CH4O - CH4O is a covalent compound.
To determine whether a compound is ionic or covalent, you need to understand the chemical bonding between the elements in the compound.
Ionic compounds are formed when a metal reacts with a non-metal. In an ionic compound, electrons are transferred from the metal to the non-metal. This creates positive and negative ions that are attracted to each other due to their opposite charges. Ionic compounds typically have a metal cation and a non-metal anion.
Covalent compounds are formed when non-metals bond with other non-metals. In a covalent compound, electrons are shared between the atoms, instead of being transferred. Covalent compounds typically have molecules, with atoms held together by strong covalent bonds.
Let's examine each compound formula to determine whether it is ionic or covalent:
1. CO2 - This compound is made up of carbon (a non-metal) and oxygen (also a non-metal). It is a covalent compound.
2. Na2CO3 - This compound contains sodium (a metal) and carbonate, which consists of carbon and oxygen (non-metals). Sodium is an alkali metal that tends to form ionic compounds, and carbonate is a polyatomic ion. Therefore, Na2CO3 is an ionic compound.
3. SF4 - This compound is made up of sulfur (a non-metal) and four fluorine atoms (also non-metals). It is a covalent compound.
4. CuSO4 - This compound contains copper (a metal) and sulfate, which consists of sulfur and oxygen (non-metals). Copper can form multiple oxidation states and can behave as a metal or a non-metal depending on the compound. In this case, since sulfate is a polyatomic ion, CuSO4 is an ionic compound.
5. NaCl - This compound contains sodium (a metal) and chlorine (a non-metal). Sodium readily loses an electron, becoming a positive ion, and chlorine readily gains an electron, becoming a negative ion. Hence, NaCl is an ionic compound.
6. CH4O - This compound is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. All three elements are non-metals. It is a covalent compound.
To summarize:
- CO2 is a covalent compound.
- Na2CO3 and CuSO4 are both ionic compounds.
- SF4 and CH4O are both covalent compounds.
- NaCl is an ionic compound.