Ionic vs. Molecular
Tyler DeWitt・7 minutes read
Ionic compounds consist of metals and nonmetals, while molecular compounds are made of nonmetals only, and the distinction can be determined by referring to the periodic table. Molecular compounds have atoms connected by sharing electrons, whereas ionic compounds bond through electron transfer, resulting in opposite charges attracting and holding them together.
Insights
- Compounds are categorized as ionic or molecular based on the elements they are composed of: ionic compounds contain metals and nonmetals, while molecular compounds consist of nonmetals exclusively.
- The distinction between ionic and molecular compounds lies in their bonding mechanisms: molecular compounds form covalent bonds through electron sharing among nonmetals, while ionic compounds bond via electron transfer between metals and nonmetals, resulting in the attraction of opposite charges to hold the compounds together.
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Recent questions
What are ionic and molecular compounds?
Ionic compounds consist of metals and nonmetals, while molecular compounds are made of nonmetals only.
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Summary
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Ionic vs Molecular Compounds: Key Differences Explained
- Compounds can be ionic or molecular, also known as covalent, distinguished by the elements they are made of: ionic compounds consist of metals and nonmetals, while molecular compounds are made of nonmetals only.
- To differentiate between ionic and molecular compounds, refer to the periodic table, noting the thick staircase dividing metals and nonmetals.
- Examples like Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Sodium Chloride illustrate the distinction: the former is molecular due to nonmetals, while the latter is ionic with a metal and nonmetal.
- Compounds with multiple elements, such as Propanol with Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen, can still be molecular if all elements are nonmetals.
- Special ionic compounds like Lithium Nitrate and Sodium Sulfate contain two different nonmetals, known as polyatomic ionic compounds.
- In molecular compounds, atoms are connected by sharing electrons, while in ionic compounds, atoms bond through electron transfer, leading to opposite charges attracting and holding them together.
