Binary Molecular and Ionic Compound Formulas # Compound Name Molecular or Ionic Compound

Data Table 2: Binary Molecular and Ionic Compound Formulas # Compound Name Molecular or Ionic Compound? Formula 1 bromine dioxide 2 lithium selenide 3 iodine monochloride 4 nitrogen monoxide 5 iron(II) sulfide 6 hydrogen chloride 7 diboron hexahydride 8 barium iodide 9 cadmium sulfide 10 bromine trichloride 11 nitrogen trihydride 12 molybdenum(VI) fluoride 13 carbon tetrabromide 14 sulfur trioxide 15 lead(II) chloride 16 iodine hexafluoride 17 tetraphosphorus decasulfide 18 dichlorine trio

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:


Completed Table: Binary Molecular and Ionic Compound Formulas

#Compound NameMolecular or Ionic Compound?Formula
1bromine dioxideMolecularBrO₂
2lithium selenideIonicLi₂Se
3iodine monochlorideMolecularICl
4nitrogen monoxideMolecularNO
5iron(II) sulfideIonicFeS
6hydrogen chlorideMolecularHCl
7diboron hexahydrideMolecularB₂H₆
8barium iodideIonicBaI₂
9cadmium sulfideIonicCdS
10bromine trichlorideMolecularBrCl₃
11nitrogen trihydrideMolecularNH₃
12molybdenum(VI) fluorideIonicMoF₆
13carbon tetrabromideMolecularCBr₄
14sulfur trioxideMolecularSO₃
15lead(II) chlorideIonicPbCl₂
16iodine hexafluorideMolecularIF₆
17tetraphosphorus decasulfideMolecularP₄S₁₀
18dichlorine trioxideMolecularCl₂O₃

Explanation

Compounds can be classified as molecular or ionic based on the types of elements involved and how they bond. Ionic compounds form between metals and nonmetals, involving the transfer of electrons to form positive and negative ions that attract each other. Molecular compounds form between nonmetals, where atoms share electrons through covalent bonds.

In this list, compounds like lithium selenide (Li₂Se), iron(II) sulfide (FeS), barium iodide (BaI₂), and lead(II) chloride (PbCl₂) are ionic. These compounds consist of metals from Groups 1, 2, or transition metals combined with nonmetals. Transition metals like iron and lead often require Roman numerals to indicate their oxidation state.

Conversely, molecular compounds such as bromine dioxide (BrO₂), carbon tetrabromide (CBr₄), and dichlorine trioxide (Cl₂O₃) are made of only nonmetals. These use prefixes (mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, etc.) to indicate the number of atoms of each element.

Special care must be taken with elements like hydrogen and halogens. For example, hydrogen chloride (HCl) is molecular in its pure form but acts as an acid when dissolved in water. Similarly, ammonia (NH₃) and diboron hexahydride (B₂H₆) are molecular hydrides with unique bonding.

This classification helps in predicting the physical properties (like melting point and solubility) and chemical behavior of compounds. Ionic compounds tend to have higher melting points and conduct electricity in solution, while molecular compounds often have lower melting points and do not conduct electricity.

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