An Ionic compound is a chemical compound which holds two or more ions together by an electrical attraction. They appear in a form of positive and negative charged ions. The positive ions are called cations and the negative ions are called anions. Ionic compounds generally contain metal. A good example of this is the positive and negative ends of a magnet which make the cations and anions stick together. Cations are metals or poly-atomic ions, and Anions can be negatively charged element or poly-atomic ions.
•CS2 (Carbon Di-sulfide) is not an ionic compound, it is a Covalent.
• Bal2 (Barium Iodide) is an ionic compound as this is a metal and ionic compound generally contain metal.
• PC13 (Phosphorus Tri-chloride) is an ionic compound.
• N2O4 (Di-nitrogen Tetra-oxide) is not an ionic compound, it is molecular. This is Nitrogen and Oxygen which are non metals.
An easy way to recognize whether a chemical is an ionic compound is by its name as most ionic compounds are two worded, the first word being the cations and the second word the anion, for example, Bal2 (Barium Iodide). All ionic compounds form crystals, if you were to look under a microscope you would be amazed at how they all bunch together in tiny little cubes, for example salt is an ionic compound and although salt is almost powder like to the naked eye, under a microscope, you would see tiny cubes. This arrangement is called "Unit cell". Ionic compounds are very tough and very brittle and are extremely difficult to break; it would actually shatter instead of a clean break. Ionic compounds also have very high melting points, if you were to hold them over a Bunsen burner, it wouldn't melt. Ionic compounds also conduct electricity when dissolved in water.
•CS2 (Carbon Di-sulfide) is not an ionic compound, it is a Covalent.
• Bal2 (Barium Iodide) is an ionic compound as this is a metal and ionic compound generally contain metal.
• PC13 (Phosphorus Tri-chloride) is an ionic compound.
• N2O4 (Di-nitrogen Tetra-oxide) is not an ionic compound, it is molecular. This is Nitrogen and Oxygen which are non metals.
An easy way to recognize whether a chemical is an ionic compound is by its name as most ionic compounds are two worded, the first word being the cations and the second word the anion, for example, Bal2 (Barium Iodide). All ionic compounds form crystals, if you were to look under a microscope you would be amazed at how they all bunch together in tiny little cubes, for example salt is an ionic compound and although salt is almost powder like to the naked eye, under a microscope, you would see tiny cubes. This arrangement is called "Unit cell". Ionic compounds are very tough and very brittle and are extremely difficult to break; it would actually shatter instead of a clean break. Ionic compounds also have very high melting points, if you were to hold them over a Bunsen burner, it wouldn't melt. Ionic compounds also conduct electricity when dissolved in water.
