Question

BeF^2 is a metal; therefore, you would not expect it to be in molecular compounds. It is also a/an:

Option a) Anion
Option b) Cation
Option c) Covalent compound
Option d) Ionic compound

Answer 1

BeF2, beryllium fluoride, is classified as an ionic compound because it is made up of a metal (beryllium) and a nonmetal (fluorine), which form cations and anions respectively, held together by ionic bonds.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the chemical compound BeF2, beryllium fluoride, and its classification. Given that BeF2 includes beryllium, a metal, and fluorine, a nonmetal, it is typically considered an ionic compound. In ionic compounds, metals form cations because they tend to lose electrons, whereas nonmetals form anions as they gain electrons. The attraction between the positively charged cation (beryllium ion, Be2+) and the negatively charged anion (fluoride ion, F-) creates the ionic bond in BeF2. Despite beryllium having a tendency to form molecules due to its small size and higher ionization energy, when combined with a halogen such as fluorine, it predominantly forms an ionic compound.