Question

Which of the following compounds contains both ionic and covalent bonds?

• A. NaCl
• B. NH₃
• C. CaCO₃
• D. CH₄

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Solution: To determine which compound contains both ionic and covalent bonds, we need to analyze the bonding in each given compound.

• NaCl: Sodium chloride consists of sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl^-). The bond is purely ionic, as electrons are transferred from sodium to chlorine.
• NH₃: Ammonia features covalent bonds between nitrogen and hydrogen atoms. All electrons are shared, resulting in covalent bonding only.
• CaCO₃: Calcium carbonate contains ionic bonds between calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and carbonate ions (CO₃^2-). Within the carbonate ion, carbon and oxygen atoms are bonded covalently.
• CH₄: Methane consists of covalent bonds between carbon and hydrogen atoms.

In CaCO₃, the presence of ionic bonds between Ca²⁺ and CO₃^2- and covalent bonds within the CO₃^2- ion indicates that it contains both types of bonds. Therefore, the answer is CaCO₃.