Which of the following are ionic, and which are molecular? (e) FeCl₃ (f) H₂SO₄

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Identify the types of elements involved in the compound FeCl_3. Iron (Fe) is a metal, and chlorine (Cl) is a non-metal.

Recall that ionic compounds are typically formed between metals and non-metals, while molecular (covalent) compounds are formed between non-metals.

Since FeCl_3 consists of a metal (Fe) and a non-metal (Cl), it is likely to be an ionic compound.

Consider the nature of the bond: In ionic compounds, electrons are transferred from the metal to the non-metal, resulting in the formation of ions.

Conclude that FeCl_3 is an ionic compound because it is composed of a metal and a non-metal, and the bonding involves the transfer of electrons.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds are formed when atoms transfer electrons, resulting in the formation of charged ions. These compounds typically consist of a metal and a non-metal, where the metal loses electrons to become a positively charged cation, and the non-metal gains electrons to become a negatively charged anion. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions leads to the formation of a crystalline lattice structure.

Molecular Compounds

Molecular compounds are formed when two or more non-metal atoms share electrons through covalent bonds. Unlike ionic compounds, they do not consist of ions but rather discrete molecules. These compounds often have lower melting and boiling points compared to ionic compounds and can exist in various states (solid, liquid, gas) at room temperature.

Identifying Ionic vs. Molecular

To determine whether a compound is ionic or molecular, one can examine its constituent elements. Compounds formed from metals and non-metals are typically ionic, while those formed from non-metals are molecular. Additionally, the presence of polyatomic ions can indicate ionic character, as seen in compounds like FeCl3, which contains iron (a metal) and chloride ions.

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