Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is most likely an inorganic ionic compound?
A
C6H12O6
B
C2H5OH
C
NaCl
D
CH3COOH
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the difference between organic and inorganic compounds. Organic compounds primarily contain carbon and hydrogen atoms and often include other elements like oxygen and nitrogen. Inorganic compounds typically do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds and often consist of metals combined with nonmetals.
Step 2: Analyze each given compound's formula to determine its nature. For example, C6H12O6 (glucose), C2H5OH (ethanol), and CH3COOH (acetic acid) all contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, indicating they are organic compounds.
Step 3: Identify NaCl as a compound composed of sodium (a metal) and chlorine (a nonmetal), which forms an ionic bond. This is characteristic of inorganic ionic compounds.
Step 4: Recall that ionic compounds are formed by the electrostatic attraction between positively charged cations and negatively charged anions, typically metals and nonmetals, which is the case for NaCl.
Step 5: Conclude that among the options, NaCl is the most likely inorganic ionic compound because it does not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds and consists of ions held together by ionic bonds.