Multiple Choice
Why is NaBr classified as an ionic compound?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following best describes an ionic compound?
A
A molecule formed by sharing electrons between nonmetal atoms.
B
A substance composed of positive and negative ions held together by electrostatic forces.
C
A compound consisting of only nonmetal elements.
D
A substance that contains only covalent bonds.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that an ionic compound is formed from the electrostatic attraction between positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions).
Recognize that ionic compounds typically form between metal atoms, which lose electrons to become cations, and nonmetal atoms, which gain electrons to become anions.
Recall that the bonding in ionic compounds is not based on sharing electrons (which is characteristic of covalent bonds), but rather on the transfer of electrons resulting in charged ions.
Note that molecules formed by sharing electrons between nonmetal atoms describe covalent compounds, not ionic compounds.
Conclude that the best description of an ionic compound is a substance composed of positive and negative ions held together by electrostatic forces.
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