what's the difference between ionic and molecular compounds?

[yahman]

can someone give me two properties that could distinguish an ionic compound from a molecular compound

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

You mean ionic and covalent, or have I missed something?

 

 

Also, does this happen to be a question from your homework assignment?

[yahman]

I know the difference between an ionic and a covalent compound however this is my first time I hear of a molecular compound and that's why I am asking about the difference.

"it's not my homework"

thanks

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

I just checked and it seems that molecular = covalent.

[woelen]

Cap'n, what you say is only true for neutral covalent compounds.

 

However, ions can also be covalent. Let's look at the well-known compound KNO3. This is an ionic compound, consisting of K(+) ions and NO3(-) ions in a 1 : 1 ratio.

 

Inside the NO3(-) ion, however, we only have covalent bonds. You can look at the ion NO3(-) as a covalent "molecule", which happens to have a single charge.