Final answer:
To categorize a compound as ionic or covalent, one examines the bond between atoms. Metallic elements transferring electrons to non-metals form ionic bonds, while non-metals sharing electrons exhibit covalent bonding. Examples like ammonia (NH3) are covalent, as are other non-metal compounds like PH3, PH4+, and XeF2.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether a compound is ionic or covalent, one should consider the types of atoms involved and the nature of the bond between them. Ionic compounds generally form between metals and non-metals and involve the transfer of electrons from the metal to the non-metal, while covalent compounds involve the sharing of electrons and typically occur between non-metal elements.
Example Analysis of Compounds
a. Ammonia is a covalent compound composed of nitrogen and hydrogen atoms. Its molecular formula is NH3. Since it is composed entirely of non-metals, and the electrons are shared between the atoms, this indicates a covalent bond.
b. The molecular structures of various compounds such as PH3 (phosphine), PH4+ (phosphonium ion), and P2H4 (diphosphane) can be extensively described in terms of their Lewis structures, geometry, and the electronegativity of the constituent atoms. However, all these compounds also exhibit covalent bonding.
c. Compounds like XeF2 (xenon difluoride), XeF4 (xenon tetrafluoride), and XeO3 (xenon trioxide) are also covalent, where noble gas xenon forms bonds with highly electronegative fluorine or oxygen.