Ionic vs. Molecular

Summary

This educational video script explores the distinction between ionic and molecular (covalent) compounds. It explains that ionic compounds consist of metals and nonmetals, while molecular compounds are made solely of nonmetals. The script uses examples like sodium chloride and sulfur dioxide to illustrate the concepts and highlights key differences, such as how atoms bond through sharing (molecular) or electron theft (ionic). It also touches on the structural differences, with molecular compounds forming distinct molecules and ionic compounds forming lattice structures.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Ionic compounds are formed from metals and nonmetals, while molecular (covalent) compounds are formed from nonmetals only.
• 📚 To determine if a compound is ionic or molecular, refer to the periodic table and check the elements' positions relative to the metal-nonmetal staircase.
• 🌐 Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is a molecular compound because it's composed of sulfur and oxygen, both nonmetals.
• ⚛️ Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is an ionic compound, consisting of the metal sodium and the nonmetal chlorine.
• 💧 Water (H2O) is a molecular compound despite hydrogen's position on the periodic table; it's an exception and is considered a nonmetal.
• 🧪 Copper (II) Fluoride is an ionic compound, with copper as a metal and fluorine as a nonmetal.
• 🍶 Propanol, composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, is a molecular compound even though it contains multiple nonmetals.
• 🧂 Lithium Nitrate and Sodium Sulfate are ionic compounds with a metal and multiple nonmetals, forming polyatomic ions.
• 🤝 In molecular compounds, atoms are held together by sharing electrons, forming covalent bonds.
• 🔗 In ionic compounds, atoms come together because one atom steals an electron from another, creating opposite charges that attract each other.
• 🌡️ The structure of compounds differs: molecular compounds form discrete molecules, while ionic compounds form lattice structures.

Q & A

What is the main difference between ionic and molecular compounds?

The main difference is that ionic compounds are made of metals and nonmetals and are held together by the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, while molecular or covalent compounds are made of only nonmetals and are held together by shared electrons.

How can you determine if a compound is ionic or molecular by looking at its elements?

A compound is likely ionic if it is made of metals and nonmetals, and it is likely molecular if it is made of only nonmetals.

What role does the periodic table play in identifying ionic versus molecular compounds?

The periodic table helps by showing which elements are metals and which are nonmetals. Metals are typically found on one side of the staircase that divides the table, and nonmetals are on the other side.

Why is hydrogen considered a nonmetal despite its position on the periodic table?

Hydrogen is an exception to the general rule. Even though it is positioned with metals on the periodic table, it is actually a nonmetal.

What is a polyatomic ionic compound and how does it differ from other ionic compounds?

A polyatomic ionic compound is an ionic compound that contains two or more different nonmetals in its formula. It differs from other ionic compounds in that it has more complex anions or cations that are groups of atoms rather than single atoms.

How are atoms held together in molecular compounds?

In molecular compounds, atoms are held together by sharing electrons, which is represented by covalent bonds between the atoms.

What is the process by which atoms in ionic compounds stick together?

In ionic compounds, atoms stick together because one atom steals an electron from another, creating opposite charges that attract each other, similar to how magnets attract.

What is the difference in structure between molecular and ionic compounds?

Molecular compounds are made of discrete molecules, which are clumps of atoms held together by covalent bonds. Ionic compounds, on the other hand, form lattice structures where the ions are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern.

What happens to ionic and molecular compounds when they dissolve in water?

Molecular compounds dissolve into individual molecules, while ionic compounds dissociate into their constituent ions.

Why are there no individual clumps of atoms in ionic compounds like there are in molecular compounds?

In ionic compounds, the atoms are arranged in a continuous lattice structure due to the electrostatic forces between the ions, whereas in molecular compounds, atoms are grouped into discrete molecules by sharing electrons.

What are some physical properties that distinguish ionic from molecular compounds?

Ionic compounds often have high melting and boiling points due to the strong electrostatic forces, while molecular compounds typically have lower melting and boiling points because the forces between molecules are weaker.

Outlines

00:00

🧪 Ionic vs Molecular Compounds

This paragraph introduces the difference between ionic and molecular compounds, also known as covalent compounds. Ionic compounds are formed by the combination of metals and nonmetals, while molecular compounds consist only of nonmetals. The video uses the periodic table to illustrate this distinction, highlighting a 'staircase' that separates metals from nonmetals. Examples are given to clarify these concepts, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) being a molecular compound because it's composed of nonmetals, and sodium chloride (NaCl) being ionic because it consists of a metal (sodium) and a nonmetal (chlorine). Hydrogen is noted as an exception, being a nonmetal despite its position on the periodic table. Additional examples like water (H2O), copper (II) fluoride, and propanol are used to demonstrate the application of these rules. The paragraph concludes with a mention of polyatomic ionic compounds, which are ionic compounds containing two different nonmetals, and a teaser for more detailed videos on the subject.

05:04

🔬 Bonding in Ionic vs Molecular Compounds

This paragraph delves into the bonding mechanisms within ionic and molecular compounds. In molecular compounds, atoms are connected through the sharing of electrons, as exemplified by water (H2O), where hydrogen and oxygen atoms are depicted as 'holding hands' to share electrons. In contrast, ionic compounds form when one atom steals an electron from another, leading to the creation of oppositely charged ions that attract each other, as shown with sodium chloride (NaCl). The paragraph also contrasts the structures of these compounds, with molecular compounds forming discrete molecules and ionic compounds forming lattice structures. The example of sugar, a molecular compound, is used to illustrate discrete molecular clumps, while sodium chloride is used to show the regular, lattice-like structure of ionic compounds. The paragraph ends with a note on the different behaviors of these compounds when dissolved in water, hinting at further exploration in related videos.

Keywords

💡Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds are formed by the electrostatic attraction between positive and negative ions. In the video, it is explained that these compounds are typically made of metals and nonmetals. An example given is Sodium Chloride (NaCl), where Sodium donates an electron to Chlorine, resulting in a positively charged Sodium ion and a negatively charged Chloride ion. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions holds the compound together.

💡Molecular Compounds

Molecular compounds, also known as covalent compounds, are formed when atoms share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. The video emphasizes that these are made up of nonmetals only. An example used is Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), where sulfur and oxygen atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds, creating a molecule as the compound.

💡Covalent Bonds

Covalent bonds are chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electron pairs between atoms. The video illustrates this concept by describing how atoms in molecular compounds, like in water (H2O), are connected through shared electrons, which is visualized as 'holding hands' between Oxygen and Hydrogen atoms.

💡Metals and Nonmetals

Metals and nonmetals are two broad categories of elements in the periodic table. The video uses the periodic table to differentiate between ionic and molecular compounds, stating that ionic compounds are made of metals and nonmetals, while molecular compounds are composed of nonmetals only. The division is depicted by a 'big thick staircase' on the periodic table.

💡Lattice Structures

Lattice structures refer to the regular, repeating arrangement of ions in ionic compounds. The video contrasts this with the molecular structure of covalent compounds. An example of a lattice structure is given with Sodium Chloride (table salt), where Sodium and Chloride ions are arranged in an orderly, box-like pattern.

💡Electron Sharing

Electron sharing is the process where two atoms share one or more electrons to achieve stability. This concept is central to the formation of covalent bonds, as explained in the video with the example of water, where Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms share electrons to form H2O molecules.

💡Electron Transfer

Electron transfer is the process where one atom gives up an electron to another, resulting in the formation of ions. This is a key mechanism in the formation of ionic compounds, as demonstrated in the video with Sodium Chloride, where Chlorine takes an electron from Sodium, creating a negatively charged Chloride ion and a positively charged Sodium ion.

💡Polyatomic Ionic Compounds

Polyatomic ionic compounds are a type of ionic compound that contains more than one kind of nonmetal. The video introduces this concept with examples like Lithium Nitrate and Sodium Sulfate, which contain a metal and two different nonmetals, forming complex ionic structures.

💡Periodic Table

The periodic table is a tabular arrangement of chemical elements by atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. In the video, the periodic table is used as a tool to determine the type of compound an element can form, with metals typically forming ionic compounds and nonmetals forming molecular compounds.

💡Hydrogen Exception

Hydrogen is an exception to the general rule that elements on the metal side of the periodic table form ionic compounds. The video clarifies that despite its position, Hydrogen is a nonmetal and forms covalent compounds when combined with other nonmetals, such as in water (H2O).

💡Dissolving in Water

The behavior of compounds when dissolved in water is a key difference between ionic and molecular compounds. The video hints at this by stating that molecular compounds dissolve into molecules, while ionic compounds dissociate into individual ions, a topic that is explored in more detail in other videos by the same presenter.

Highlights

Ionic compounds are made of metals and nonmetals, while molecular compounds are made of only nonmetals.

To determine if a compound is ionic or molecular, refer to the periodic table and check the elements' positions.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is a molecular compound composed of nonmetals sulfur and oxygen.

Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is an ionic compound made of metal sodium and nonmetal chlorine.

H2O (water) is a molecular compound despite hydrogen's position on the periodic table; it's a nonmetal exception.

Copper (II) Fluoride is an ionic compound with metal copper and nonmetal fluoride.

Propanol, composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, is a molecular compound despite having multiple nonmetals.

Lithium Nitrate and Sodium Sulfate are ionic compounds with a metal and multiple nonmetals, known as polyatomic ionic compounds.

Ionic compounds form a lattice structure, unlike molecular compounds which form individual molecules.

In molecular compounds, atoms are held together by sharing electrons, as seen in water (H2O).

Ionic compounds form due to one atom stealing an electron from another, creating opposite charges that attract each other, as in Sodium Chloride (NaCl).

Molecular compounds are made up of discrete molecules, like sugar, which are clumps of atoms.

Ionic compounds, like Sodium Chloride, form a regular, organized lattice structure rather than discrete molecules.

The difference in structure between ionic and molecular compounds affects their behavior when dissolved in water.

For more on the properties and behavior of ionic and molecular compounds in water, refer to additional videos on physical properties.

Transcripts

In this video we're going to look at compounds that are ionic versus compounds that are molecular

also known as covalent.

We will learn how you can tell them apart based on their formulas and then we'll look

at some important differences between them.

So how can you tell whether something is ionic or molecular?

Well it depends on the elements that may come up.

So ionic compounds are made of metals and nonmetals whereas molecular also known as

covalent compounds are made of only nonmetals.

Let's do a couple practice problems to work on this.

You will need a periodic table to do this, here's the one that I'm using, I've left out

a lot of the elements because they're not important.

But what is important is this big thick staircase that divides the periodic table into two parts.

On this side of the staircase are the medals and on this side of the staircase are the

nonmetals.

Okay, so here are a couple examples.

The first one, Sulfur Dioxide, so where are the elements that it�s made of.

It's made up of Sulfur and oxygen, both these are nonmetals, which means that Sulfur Dioxide

(SO2) is a molecular compound.

Sodium Chloride is made up of Sodium, a metal, and Chlorine or Chloride which is a non-metal.

Sodium Chloride is an ionic compound.

Alright now, H2O is made of Hydrogen and Oxygen.

Now you might think that Hydrogen is a metal because it's on this side of the periodic

table, it�s fine and understandable if you do that.

But Hydrogen is an exception, even though it's on this side of the periodic table it�s

actually a non-metal, it's the only exception.

So Hydrogen and Oxygen are actually both nonmetals which means that H2O water is a molecular

or covalent compound.

Okay Copper (II) Fluoride, Copper is here and Fluorine or Fluoride is here, metal, non-metal

so this thing is ionic.

Okay, let's look at a few trickier examples.

So far, we've only look at compounds that have two elements but there are a lot of compounds

out there that have more than two elements, okay?

So Propanol for example is made up of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen.

All three of these are non-metals though so this is still a molecular or covalent compound

even though it has a bunch of nonmetals, okay?

Don't be confused by that.

Here's another example.

Lithium Nitrate has Lithium which is a metal but then it also has Nitrogen and Oxygen which

are both nonmetals.

So it still has that metal, nonmetal thing going on so it's an ionic compound even though

it has two nonmetals and the same thing is true of Sodium Sulfate.

It's got Sodium, a metal, and two nonmetals, Sulfur and Oxygen but metal and nonmetal means

it�s ionic.

Now Lithium Nitrate and Sodium Sulfate are actually special kinds of ionic compounds

because they have two different nonmetals in them.

They are what are called polyatomic ionic compounds and if you want to learn more about

these I've got videos on them.

So now we can look at a chemical formula and we can sort them and we can decide whether

something is ionic or whether it�s molecular or covalent.

So what?

Who cares?

Well there are some very important differences between ionic compounds and molecular compounds.

Let's take a look at some of those right now.

So one really important difference is how the atoms in these compounds are held together.

In molecular or covalent compounds, the atoms that make them up are held together because

they're sharing electrons.

Here's what I mean.

Water, H2O, is a very common molecular compound.

It's made up of one Oxygen and two Hydrogens and these lines between the atoms show they're

connected and they mean that they're connected because they're sharing electrons.

Here's how I like to think about this.

It's like Oxygen and Hydrogen both have these little hands and the hands are joined together,

it�s like their holding hands and they're holding hands because they both are trying

to hold on to a pair of electrons which I've drawn here in red.

You got Oxygen and Hydrogen connected together because they're holding on and sharing these

electrons here, that's what makes atoms connect and stick together in a molecular or covalent

compound, okay?

Now on the other hand, in ionic compounds, atoms aren�t being so nice to each other�they're

not sharing.

The atoms stick together in an ionic compound because one atom steals another atoms electron,

so electrons get stolen, and then opposite charges attract.

Let me show you what I mean.

So Sodium Chloride or NaCl is a very common ionic compound, it's made up of Sodium and

Chlorine and here they are just hanging out.

Now for these two guys to stick together, here is what happens.

The first thing that happens is Chlorine reaches its greedy hand over and grabs an electron

from Sodium, okay, and it pulls it back.

So now, Chlorine has an extra electron and Sodium has lost one of its electrons.

This causes Chlorine to now get a negative charge because it has a new electron and Sodium

because it had one of its electron stolen now it has a positive charge.

So now we have a positively charged ion here and another negatively charged ion here.

What do opposite charged things like to do?

They like to come together, they stick together, they are attracted to each other just like

magnets.

So now, we have a positively charged thing and a negatively charged thing.

These arrows show how they're going to come together and we end up with the two atoms

stuck together because they're oppositely changed and that's what holds ionic compounds

together.

So covalent or molecular compounds, the atoms are stuck together because they're sharing

electrons with each other.

Ionic compounds, atoms are stuck together because one has stolen the others electrons,

it's given them opposite charges and then those opposite charges have attracted just

like magnets.

That is one way that ionic and molecular compounds differ.

Here is one more.

So another big difference is how these compounds would actually look if we could see the atoms

that make them up.

So molecular or covalent compounds are made of molecules, which is a fancy word for a

bunch of atoms that are stuck together in a clump.

Here's what I mean.

So sugar is a very common type of a covalent compound and it is made of molecules, where

I have these atoms here stuck together in a clump-- two Carbons, four Hydrogens and

two Oxygens.

So a grain of sugar would look like this, it would look like a number of different sugar

molecules that have all kind of come together and formed a clump here, okay?

But the big deal here is that these molecules are individual clumps of atoms that then come

together to make stuff.

On the other hand, ionic compounds� they're not made of clumps of atoms like molecules.

They�re made of what we call lattice structures and here's what lattice structures are.

The example I'm going to give you is salt which is Sodium Chloride table salt and the

lattice structures of Sodium Chloride look like this.

Look how different this is from the molecules that makeup sugar.

You just have the Sodium and the Chloride atoms stuck together in this very organized

box-like shape.

This is what a lattice structure is.

There aren�t individual clumps of Sodium Chloride the way there are individual clumps

of sugar, instead all the atoms are stuck together in this very regular shape.

Now one big important difference between covalent or molecular stuff and Ionics is what happens

when they dissolve in water.

These guys just come apart into molecules whereas the individual atoms come apart when

an ionic compound dissolves in water but we're getting a little ahead of ourselves here.

If you're interested other differences between these, check out videos that I have on physical

properties as well as what happens when you dissolve ionic and molecular compounds.