A compound that is composed of molecules?

A compound that is composed of molecules?

• A. Ionic Compound
• B. Crystal
• C. Molecular Compound
• D. Subscript

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how atoms bond to make a substance. A molecular compound is built from discrete molecules held together by covalent bonds, so its smallest identifiable unit is a molecule. That’s why it’s described as being composed of molecules—the properties of the compound come from those individual molecules rather than a repeating lattice of ions. Ionic compounds, in contrast, are made of ions arranged in a crystal lattice and do not exist as separate molecules. A crystal is a repeating solid arrangement that can describe many different substances, not a type of compound by itself. A subscript is simply a number in a formula showing how many atoms of an element are present, not a description of whether a compound is molecular. So the correct idea is molecular compound.

The main idea is how atoms bond to make a substance. A molecular compound is built from discrete molecules held together by covalent bonds, so its smallest identifiable unit is a molecule. That’s why it’s described as being composed of molecules—the properties of the compound come from those individual molecules rather than a repeating lattice of ions. Ionic compounds, in contrast, are made of ions arranged in a crystal lattice and do not exist as separate molecules. A crystal is a repeating solid arrangement that can describe many different substances, not a type of compound by itself. A subscript is simply a number in a formula showing how many atoms of an element are present, not a description of whether a compound is molecular. So the correct idea is molecular compound.