Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for copper(II) sulfate?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following pairs of elements would you expect to form an ionic bond?
A
Na and Cl
B
S and O
C
O and N
D
C and H
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that an ionic bond typically forms between a metal and a nonmetal, where one atom donates electrons and the other accepts electrons, resulting in oppositely charged ions that attract each other.
Identify the elements in each pair and classify them as metals or nonmetals. Sodium (Na) is a metal, chlorine (Cl) is a nonmetal; sulfur (S), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), carbon (C), and hydrogen (H) are all nonmetals.
Recognize that pairs consisting of two nonmetals usually form covalent bonds by sharing electrons rather than ionic bonds.
Conclude that the pair Na and Cl is the only one where a metal and a nonmetal are combined, making it the pair most likely to form an ionic bond.
Recall that in NaCl, sodium donates one electron to chlorine, forming Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions, which are held together by strong electrostatic forces characteristic of ionic bonds.
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