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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Partha Sarker on August 02, 2014, 03:13:35 AM

Title: Is Na2SO4 covalant or ionic compound?
Post by: Partha Sarker on August 02, 2014, 03:13:35 AM
Na2SO4 is a salt...well everybody knows it.But my question is this compound ionic or covalent?

the radical SO42- is formed by covalent bonds.. But when Na2SO4 constructs 2 Na atoms give 2 e- to 2 O2 atoms.. So there is both ionic and covalent bonds.

So what should we call this compound an ionic one or a covalent one...???
Title: Re: Is Na2SO4 covalant or ionic compound?
Post by: Borek on August 02, 2014, 03:17:27 AM
We treat it as an ionic salt (even if you are perfectly right about SO42- containing covalent bonds). Trick is, SO42- is so stable we rarely have to care about its internal structure, and most properties of Na2SO4 are defined by the presence of Na+ and the stable counterion.
Title: Re: Is Na2SO4 covalant or ionic compound?
Post by: Partha Sarker on August 02, 2014, 06:47:17 AM
Quote from: Borek on August 02, 2014, 03:17:27 AM
We treat it as an ionic salt (even if you are perfectly right about SO42- containing covalent bonds). Trick is, SO42- is so stable we rarely have to care about its internal structure, and most properties of Na2SO4 are defined by the presence of Na+ and the stable counterion.
Do you mean "Counter Ion" by "counterion"
Title: Re: Is Na2SO4 covalant or ionic compound?
Post by: Arkcon on August 02, 2014, 06:59:05 AM
Quote from: Partha Sarker on August 02, 2014, 06:47:17 AM
Do you mean "Counter Ion" by "counterion"

Apparently, it can be written both ways: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterion
Title: Re: Is Na2SO4 covalant or ionic compound?
Post by: Corribus on August 02, 2014, 11:38:27 AM
@Partha

It is usually considered an ionic compound. However the sulfate ion is considered a "polyatomic ion", which is held together by covalent bonds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyatomic_ion

(When I was learning general chemistry, we used the term "complex ion". But apparently this term is no longer in favor. Damn, that's when you know you're getting old - when terms you learned are being retired in favor of others...)
Title: Re: Is Na2SO4 covalant or ionic compound?
Post by: Partha Sarker on August 03, 2014, 12:09:36 AM
Quote from: Corribus on August 02, 2014, 11:38:27 AM
@Partha

It is usually considered an ionic compound. However the sulfate ion is considered a "polyatomic ion", which is held together by covalent bonds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyatomic_ion

(When I was learning general chemistry, we used the term "complex ion". But apparently this term is no longer in favor. Damn, that's when you know you're getting old - when terms you learned are being retired in favor of others...)
So Radical=Polyatomic ion???