Q.6.151 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Classify each of the following as ionic or molecular, and name each.

a. Li₃HPO₂

b. ClF₃

c. Mg(ClO₃)₂

d. NF₃

e. Ca(HSO₄)₂

f. KClO₂

g. Au₂(SO₃)₃

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

a. Ionic, Lithium hydrogen phosphate

b. molecular, chlorine trifluoride

c. ionic, magnesium chlorate

d. molecular, nitrogen trifluoride

e. ionic, calcium hydrogen sulfate

f. ionic, potassium chlorite

g. ionic, gold(II) sulfite

Step 1: Part (a) Given Information

We need to determine whether Li₃HPO₂ is ionic or molecular and its name.

Step 2: Part (b) Explanation

• The name of Li₃HPO₂ is Lithium hydrogen phosphate. 
• It is an ionic compound made up of Lithium$\left({\mathrm{Li}}^{+}\right)$ and hydrogen phosphate iondata-custom-editor="chemistry" $\left({{\mathrm{HPO}}_4}^{3-}\right)$.
• In ionic compounds, the ions i.e., cation and anion are held together by strong attractive forces.

Step 1: Part (b) Given Information

We need to determine whether ClF₃  is ionic or molecular and also its name.

Step 2: Part (b) Explanation

• The name of ClF₃  is chlorine trifluoride. It is an interhalogen compound.
• Molecular compounds are inorganic compounds that form discrete molecules. It represents the actual number of atoms in a compound. 
• In  ClF₃ , there are three fluorine atoms and one chlorine atom. 
• It has T-shaped molecular geometry.

Step 1: Part (c) Given Information

We need to determine whether Mg(ClO₃)₂ is an ionic or molecular compound and give its name.

Step 2: Part (c) Explanation

• The name of Mg(ClO₃)₂ is magnesium chlorate. 
• It is an ionic compound that is composed of magnesium ion$\left({\mathrm{Mg}}^{2+}\right)$ and chlorate ion$\left({{\mathrm{ClO}}_4}^{-}\right)$.
• The cation and anion are held together by strong attractive forces in an ionic compound.

Step 1: Part (d) Given Information

We need to determine whether NF₃ is an ionic or molecular compound and give its name.

Step 2: Part (d) Explanation

• The name of NF₃ is nitrogen trifluoride.
• Molecular compounds are inorganic compounds that form discrete molecules. It represents the actual number of atoms in a compound. 
• It is a molecular compound with trigonal pyramidal geometry. It consists of three fluorine atoms and one nitrogen atom.

Step 1: Part (e) Given information

We need to determine Ca(HSO₄)₂ whether it is ionic or molecular and give its name.

Step 2: Part (e) Explanation

• The name of Ca(HSO₄)₂  is Calcium hydrogen sulfate.
• It is an ionic compound that is composed of calcium ion$\left({\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}\right)$ and hydrogen sulfate ion$\left({{\mathrm{HSO}}_4}^{-}\right)$.
• The cation and anion are held together by strong attractive forces in an ionic compound.

Step 1: Part (f) Given Information

We need to determine whether KClO₂ is ionic or molecular, and give its name.

Step 2: Part (f) Explanation

• The name of KClO₂ is Potassium chlorite.
• It is an ionic compound, that is composed of potassium ion$\left({\mathrm{K}}^{+}\right)$ and chlorite ion$\left({{\mathrm{ClO}}_2}^{-}\right)$.
• These ions are held together by strong attractive forces.

Step 1: Part (f) Given Information

We need to determine whether Au₂(SO₃)₃ is ionic or molecular and give its name.

Step 2: Part (f) Explanation

• The name of Au₂(SO₃)₃ is Gold(III) sulfite.
• It is an ionic compound that is composed of gold ion $\left({\mathrm{Au}}^{3+}\right)$ and sulfite ion $\left({{\mathrm{SO}}_3}^{2-}\right)$.
• These ions are held together by strong attractive forces.