Question

The compound calcium carbonate contains the calcium ion (Ca2+) and the polyatomic carbonate ion (CO32-). Explain why calcium carbonate is considered to be an ionic compound when it contains both ionic and covalent bonds.

Answer 1

Because of the electronegativity difference C-O (covalent) and Ca-O (ionic) bonds have.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hello there!

In this case, in order to understand the polarity of this compound, calcium carbonate, it firstly necessary that it is comes from the definition of electronegativity, as a property defining the capacity to attract electrons from another atom; thus, since the electronegativities of calcium, carbon an oxygen are 1.0, 2.55 and 3.44, it is possible to realize this compound has O-Ca and O-C bonds according to its Lewis dot structure. In such a way, we calculate the difference electronegativity for these two bonds:

`\Delta E_(O-Ca)=3.44-1.0 = 2.44\\\\\Delta E_(O-C)=3.44-2.55=0.89`

Thus, since 2.44 accounts for an ionic bond and 0.89 for a covalent one, we bear out the given statement in the question.