Final answer:
Methanol (CH3OH) is the substance among the listed options that exists as a molecular compound because it consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms bonded covalently.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the following substances exists as a molecular compound:
- a) Oxygen (O2)
- b) Calcium chloride (CaCl2)
- c) Methanol (CH3OH)
- d) Sulfate ion (SO42–)
In chemistry, a molecular compound is composed of nonmetals that share electrons through covalent bonds. Based on this definition, we can go through the options:
- Oxygen (O2) is a diatomic molecule made up of two oxygen atoms bonded covalently.
- Calcium chloride (CaCl2) is an ionic compound composed of calcium ions and chloride ions.
- Methanol (CH3OH) is a molecule that consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms bonded covalently. Therefore, it is a molecular compound.
- The sulfate ion (SO42–) is an anion (negatively charged ion) and not a discrete molecule.
Among the options given, c) Methanol (CH3OH) exists as a molecular compound.