Question

Classify each of the following species as molecular, network covalent, ionic, or metallic. (a) \(\mathrm{Na}\) (b) \(\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) (c) \(\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) (d) \(\mathrm{C}_{60}\) (e) \(\mathrm{HCl}(a q)\)

Short answer

Question: Classify each of the following substances based on their bond types: (a) Sodium (Na) (b) Sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) (c) Benzene (C6H6) (d) Buckminsterfullerene (C60) (e) Hydrochloric acid (HCl(aq)) Answer: (a) Sodium (Na) - Metallic bond (b) Sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) - Ionic bond (c) Benzene (C6H6) - Molecular bond (d) Buckminsterfullerene (C60) - Network covalent bond (e) Hydrochloric acid (HCl(aq)) - Ionic bond

Step-by-step solution

(a) Sodium (Na) Classification

Sodium (Na) is an element with one valence electron in its outer shell. It is a metal and tends to lose its valence electron under normal conditions. Metals naturally bond with other metallic atoms to form metallic bonds. It is therefore classified as a "metallic" species.

(b) Sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) Classification

Sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) consists of sodium (Na) which is a metal and sulfate (SO4) which is a polyatomic non-metal anion. Metals bond with non-metals to form ionic bonds. It is a compound formed by the ionic bond between sodium (Na) and sulfate (SO4) ions, and is classified as an "ionic" species.

(c) Benzene (C6H6) Classification

Benzene (C6H6) is an organic compound formed by carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms. Carbon and hydrogen atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds. As benzene consists of individual molecules with distinct covalent bonds, it is classified as a "molecular" species.

(d) Buckminsterfullerene (C60) Classification

Buckminsterfullerene (C60) is an allotrope of carbon. Its unique structure contains carbon atoms arranged in a cage-like structure, where each carbon atom is bonded to three other carbons through covalent bonds. The entire structure creates a network of interconnected carbon atoms. As the bonding in C60 is based on strong covalent bonds shared throughout the entire network, it is classified as a "network covalent" species.

(e) Hydrochloric acid (HCl(aq)) Classification

Hydrochloric acid (HCl(aq)) is a strong acid and the (aq) notation suggests it has been dissolved in water. When HCl is dissolved in water, it dissociates into its hydrogen (H+) and chloride (Cl-) ions. While HCl is a covalent compound in the gas state, in water, it behaves like an ionic compound due to its dissociation into ions. Therefore, in this case, it can be classified as an "ionic" species.