In the following pairs of binary compounds, determine which one is a molecular substance and which one is an ionic substance. Use the appropriate naming convention (for ionic or molecular substances) to assign a name to each compound: (c) SbCl₅ and AlF₃.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Determine the type of elements involved in each compound. Molecular compounds typically consist of nonmetals, while ionic compounds consist of metals and nonmetals.
2. For SbCl_5, identify the elements: Sb (antimony) is a metalloid and Cl (chlorine) is a nonmetal.
3. For AlF_3, identify the elements: Al (aluminum) is a metal and F (fluorine) is a nonmetal.
4. Classify SbCl_5 as a molecular compound because it involves a metalloid and nonmetals.
5. Classify AlF_3 as an ionic compound because it involves a metal and nonmetals.

Key Concepts

Ionic vs. Molecular Compounds

Ionic compounds are formed from the electrostatic attraction between positively and negatively charged ions, typically between metals and nonmetals. In contrast, molecular compounds consist of molecules formed by covalent bonds, where atoms share electrons, usually between nonmetals. Understanding the distinction helps in identifying the nature of the compounds in question.

Naming Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds are named by stating the name of the cation (positive ion) followed by the name of the anion (negative ion). For example, in AlF3, aluminum (Al) is the cation and fluoride (F) is the anion, resulting in the name aluminum fluoride. This naming convention is essential for correctly identifying and communicating the nature of ionic substances.

Naming Molecular Compounds

Molecular compounds are named using prefixes to indicate the number of atoms of each element present in the molecule. For instance, in SbCl5, antimony (Sb) is the central atom with five chlorine (Cl) atoms, leading to the name pentachloride antimony. This systematic approach to naming helps distinguish molecular compounds from ionic ones.