52. Classify each compound as ionic or molecular. If it is ionic,

determine whether the metal forms only one type of ion or

more than one type of ion.

(a) CoCl2 (b) CF4 (c) BaSO4 (d) NO

1 ...

CoCl₂ is an ionic compound

CF₄ is molecular

BaSO₄ is an ionic compound

NO is molecular

An ionic compound is a compound which forms between a metal and non-metal. It involves the formation of a bond between two ions of significant electronegative difference. It results from the electrostatic force of attraction between two atoms in which one has lost an electron (metal) and the other that has gained an electron (non-metal).

CoCl₂ is an ionic compound

BaSO₄ is also ionic

A molecular compound is formed as a result of covalent bonds between atoms. This is due to the fact that the two atoms have similar electronegativities and would both pull the shared electrons closely. Most molecules are usually formed this way.

CF₄ and NO are both molecular compounds

2 ... The ionic compounds are the ones containing metals:

In CoCl₂ the metal is Co, cobalt

BaSO₄ has Ba

Co is a transition metal. Transition elements are known to have various oxidation states. This implies that they can form more than one type of ion. The oxidation number of Co are - 1, 0, + 1, + 2, + 3 and + 4

Ba will only form one type of ion as an alkaline earth metal. It has an oxidation state of + 2 only. It will only form one type of ion.