Ionic vs. Molecular
Tyler DeWitt・2 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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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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