A molecular compound is a compound made up of molecules, which are groups of atoms held together by chemical bonds. These molecules are neutral, meaning they have the same number of protons and electrons. In this article, we will study in detail what is a molecular compound?
Molecular Compounds- Definition
Molecular compounds are compounds held together by covalent bonds. Molecular compounds are compounds formed from two or more nonmetallic elements. Covalent bonds hold atoms of different elements together in molecules in a molecular compound. These are chemical bonds that occur when two atoms share. valence electrons The atoms in the molecule are held together by the force of attraction between the shared electrons and the positive nuclei of both atoms.
1. Why a Molecular Compound has a Covalent bond and not an ionic bond?
A molecular compound has a covalent bond because the atoms in the compound have similar electronegativity, which means that they have a similar attraction for electrons. This means that neither atom can easily take or give away electrons to the other atom, so they have to share electrons in order to fill their outermost electron shells and become more stable.
2, Characteristics of Molecular Compound
The intermolecular forces in molecular compounds are weak.
In molecular compounds, valence electrons are shared rather than being transferred between atoms as in ionic compounds.
Many molecular compounds, particularly those containing carbon and hydrogen, burn easily.
Many molecular compounds do not dissolve in water because they are non polar.
Molecular compounds lack freely moving electrons, therefore, they cannot conduct electricity. Instead, they serve as good insulators.
Molecular compounds have relatively low boiling temperatures because individual molecules of covalent compounds can be separated more easily in a crystal. This property explains why many of them are liquids or gases at room temperature.
1. How can a Molecular Compound be Represented?
A molecular compound can be represented in several ways: Molecular formula: This is the most common way to represent a molecular compound and it shows the number and types of atoms present in a molecule. For example, the molecular formula of water is H2O, which means there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom in a molecule of water.
Compound | Molecular Formula |
Glucose | C6H12O6 |
Butane | C4H10 |
C2H5OH |
Lewis Structure: This representation shows the atoms in a molecule and the electrons in the covalent bonds between them. It uses dots to represent electrons and lines to represent bonds. For example, the Lewis structure of water is H-O-H, where the lines indicate the covalent bonds between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Ball-and-stick model: This is a 3D representation of a molecule where the atoms are represented by balls and the bonds are represented by sticks. It helps to visualize the 3D structure of the molecule. Space-filling model: This is a 3D representation of a molecule where the atoms are represented by spheres and the bonds are not shown. It gives an idea of the size and shape of the molecule and the relative position of the atoms. Skeletal formula: This is a simplified representation of a molecule, where the atoms are represented by their chemical symbols and the bonds are represented by lines. It shows the connectivity of atoms in a molecule. Also Refer: Ionic Compounds VS Molecular Compounds
2. Examples of Molecular Compounds
A few examples of molecular compounds include:
Water (H2O)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Ammonia (NH3)
Oxygen (O2)
Nitrogen (N2)
Chlorine (Cl2)
Hydrogen chloride (HCl)
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S)
Nitric oxide (NO)
Carbon tetra chloride (CCl4)
Ethylene (C2H4)
Acetic acid (CH3COOH)
Formaldehyde (CH2O)
Ethanol (C2H5OH)
Sucrose (C12H22O11)
Glucose (C6H12O6)
Ethane (C2H6)
Key Takeaways
Molecular compounds are connected by covalent bonds.
Molecular compounds are also known as covalent compounds.
Covalent compounds have lower melting and boiling points.
Covalent compounds are not very rigid, most of them are soft and flexible.
Covalent compounds don't dissolve in water. They will dissolve in water if they if they have polar characteristics in them due to difference of electronegativity in them.
FA67Qs
1. What are the properties of molecular compounds?
Molecular compounds are typically gases or liquids at room temperature, have low melting and boiling points, are poor conductors of electricity, have little or no polarity, and are typically composed of a small number of different elements.
2. How are molecular compounds formed?
Molecular compounds are formed when atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds. These bonds form when atoms have a stable electron configuration.
2. What is the difference between molecular and ionic compounds?
Molecular compounds are composed of neutral molecules, while ionic compounds are composed of positively and negatively charged ions. Ionic compounds generally have higher melting and boiling points and are solids at room temperature, while molecular compounds are typically gases or liquids.
3. How can you identify a molecular compound?
A molecular compound can be identified by its molecular formula, which shows the number and types of atoms present in a molecule. It can also be identified by its Lewis structure, ball-and-stick model, space-filling model, or skeletal formula.
4. What are some common examples of molecular compounds?
Common examples of molecular compounds include water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), oxygen (O2), and nitrogen (N2).
Conclusion
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