Final answer:
The multicast IP address requires a corresponding MAC address for proper distribution of data packets to multiple devices in a network.
Step-by-step explanation:
The multicast IP address requires a corresponding MAC address. Multicast addresses are used for network protocols that support one-to-many (or many-to-many) distribution, such as when streaming video or audio to multiple recipients. For the devices on a network to properly receive multicast traffic, Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) is used to manage multicast group memberships, and part of this process includes the mapping of the multicast IP address to a multicast MAC address. This mapping is necessary because while the IP layer uses the multicast IP for routing the packets through the network, it is the data link layer that utilizes the MAC address for the actual delivery of the frames to the right group of devices.