Question

Sodium chloride is an ionic compound where as hydrogen chloride is mainly covalent because _______________.

• A. sodium is less reactive
• B. hydrogen is non-metal
• C. hydrogen chloride is a gas
• D. electronegativity difference in the case of Hydrogen and chlorine is less than 2.1.

Answer 1

The correct option is D electronegativity difference in the case of Hydrogen and chlorine is less than 2.1.

In the case of hydrogen chloride, the electronegativity difference is less than 2.1, because of that electron can be shared between hydrogen and chlorine easily.

Due to gaseous nature, the atoms do not ionize and remain the elemental state.

Hence, they form a covalent compound.

Hence the correct option is D.