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Based on electronegativities, which of the following would you expect to be most ionic?

a) N2
b) CaF2
c) CO2
d) CH4
e) CF4

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

CaF2 is the most ionic compound among the given options.

CaF2 is the most ionic compound among the given options as it consists of a metal (Ca) bonding with a highly electronegative non-metal (F), resulting in the formation of ionic bonds.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine which compound is the most ionic based on electronegativities, we need to consider the difference in electronegativity between the elements in each compound. The greater the electronegativity difference between the elements, the more ionic the compound will be.

In the given options:

a) N2: Nitrogen has similar electronegativity to itself, so it will form a covalent bond.

b) CaF2: Calcium (Ca) has a low electronegativity and fluorine (F) has a high electronegativity, resulting in a large electronegativity difference and a more ionic bond. This is the most ionic compound among the options.

c) CO2: Carbon (C) and oxygen (O) have similar electronegativity, so CO2 is a covalent compound.

d) CH4: Carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) have similar electronegativity, so CH4 is a covalent compound.

e) CF4: Carbon (C) and fluorine (F) have similar electronegativity, so CF4 is a covalent compound.

CaF2 is the most ionic compound among the given options as it consists of a metal (Ca) bonding with a highly electronegative non-metal (F), resulting in the formation of ionic bonds.

Based on electronegativities, you would expect CaF2 to be the most ionic compound among the given options. This is because ionic bonds typically form between metals and non-metals due to a large difference in electronegativity. Calcium (Ca) is a metal, while fluorine (F) is a highly electronegative non-metal. The large difference in electronegativity between Ca and F leads to the formation of ionic bonds in CaF2. In contrast, compounds such as N2, CO2, CH4, and CF4 involve non-metals forming covalent bonds, which result from a smaller difference in electronegativity between the atoms involved.

User Stephan Stanisic
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