Question

_______ compound is not an ionic compound.

• A. Lithium chloride
• B. Ammonium chloride
• C. Calcium chloride
• D. Carbon tetrachloride

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Carbon tetrachloride

• Metals are the ones that are electropositive in nature and have the tendency to lose electrons and form cations (positively charged species). On the other hand, nonmetals are the ones that are electronegative in nature and have the tendency to gain electrons and form anions (negatively charged species).
• The compound in which bonds are formed from the electrostatic interaction between a cation and an anion is termed as ionic compound. These compounds dissociate in water to liberate their constituent ions.
• The compound in which bonds are formed due to sharing of electrons is called covalent compounds.
• Since Carbon tetrachloride $\left({\mathrm{CCl}}_4\right)$is formed from two nonmetals, Carbon $\left(\mathrm{C}\right)$ and Chlorine$\left(\mathrm{Cl}\right)$, by sharing the electrons. Therefore, it cannot be categorized as an ionic compound.

A

• Since Lithium chloride $\left(\mathrm{LiCl}\right)$ is formed from metal, Lithium $\left(\mathrm{Li}\right)$, which forms the Lithium cation (${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$), and nonmetal Chlorine, which forms the Chloride anion (${\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}$), it is classified as an ionic compound.
• Lithium chloride $\left(\mathrm{LiCl}\right)$ dissociates in the aqueous solution to form Lithium ion $\left({\mathrm{Li}}^{+}\right)$ and Chloride ion $\left({\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\right)$.

$\mathrm{LiCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Li}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$

B

• Since Ammonium chloride $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{Cl}\right)$ dissociates in water to form Ammonium ion $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}\right)$ and Chloride ion, it is classified as an ionic compound.

${\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{Cl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$

C

• Since Calcium chloride $\left({\mathrm{CaCl}}_2\right)$ is formed from the interaction between metal, Calcium $\left(\mathrm{Ca}\right)$, which forms the Calcium cation $\left({\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}\right)$, and nonmetal Chlorine, which forms the Chloride anion (${\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}$), it is classified as ionic compounds.
• Calcium chloride $\left({\mathrm{CaCl}}_2\right)$ dissociates in the aqueous solution to form Calcium ion $\left({\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}\right)$ and Chloride ion$\left({\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\right)$.

${\mathrm{CaCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+2{\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$

Hence, option D is correct. Carbon tetrachloride is not an ionic compound.