Final answer:
NaCl is the ionic compound among the options given, where sodium and chlorine ions are electrostatically attracted to each other. CO₂, H₂O, and CH₄ are molecular compounds with covalent bonding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked: Which of the following compounds is an ionic compound (not a molecular covalent compound)? a. CO₂ b. H₂O c. NaCl d. CH₄. Among the options given, the one that is an ionic compound is c. NaCl (sodium chloride). Ionic compounds are typically formed when a metal and a nonmetal react and transfer electrons, resulting in positive and negative ions that are electrostatically attracted to each other. Sodium (Na) is a metal that loses an electron to become Na+, and Chlorine (Cl) is a nonmetal that gains an electron to become Cl−. The other compounds listed (CO₂, H₂O, and CH₄) are molecular compounds where atoms share electrons in covalent bonds.