Final answer:
HF (hydrogen fluoride) displays the greatest ionic character in its bonds due to the high electronegativity difference between the H and F atoms, making it more likely to dissociate into ions compared to the other compounds listed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the listed compounds displays the greatest ionic character in its bonds. These compounds include: CO₂, H₂O, NH₃, NO₂, and HF. The ionic character of a bond in a compound is related to the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms involved. A greater difference in electronegativity indicates a bond with more ionic character.
To answer this question, we need to consider the electronegativity of the atoms in each compound. Looking at the given series CH₄ (50) << NH₃ (36) < H₂O (14.00) < HF (3.20), we can deduce that HF (hydrogen fluoride) has a significantly lower number, implying a stronger tendency to dissociate into ions. This is due to the high electronegativity of fluorine, which stabilizes the negative charge on the F⁻ ion more effectively compared to other atoms stabilizing their corresponding anions. Thus, HF exhibits the most ionic character among the given compounds.