Fill in the blanks with a, b, c, or d.

When comparing the strength of bonds between molecules, Ionic bonds have _______ bonds, and molecular bonds have _____ bonds?
a. very strong, weaker
b. weak, strong
c. strong, very strong
d. weak, very weak

I think the answer is A. but thought it could be C. help pleas

The question is asking you (in a confusing way) to compare ionic bonds to INTERMOLECULAR attractions (attractions between neighboring molecules). The answer to that should not be much of a challenge. Consider the melting point of an ionic solid like sodium chloride to a molecular solid like wax. The higher the melting point the stronger the bonds that hold the solid together.

I think the question is confusing, too.

To determine the correct answer, let's first understand the concepts of ionic bonds and molecular bonds.

Ionic bonds occur when there is a complete transfer of electrons between atoms, resulting in the formation of ions. These ions have opposite charges and are held together by electrostatic forces. Ionic bonds are typically very strong due to the attraction between the positively and negatively charged ions.

On the other hand, molecular bonds (also known as covalent bonds) occur when atoms share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. This type of bonding is usually stronger than weaker intermolecular forces but generally weaker than ionic bonds.

Now let's compare the given options:

a. very strong, weaker
b. weak, strong
c. strong, very strong
d. weak, very weak

Option A states that ionic bonds have very strong bonds, while molecular bonds have weaker bonds. This aligns with our explanation, as ionic bonds are indeed stronger than molecular bonds. Therefore, option A is correct.

Option C suggests that both ionic and molecular bonds are strong, with ionic bonds being very strong. This statement is not accurate since molecular bonds are generally weaker than ionic bonds. Hence, option C is incorrect.

In summary, the correct answer is option A.