What kind of charge does an ionic compound carry?Multiple choice question.neutralpositivenegativeunknown

Analyzing the Charge of Ionic Compounds

1. Break Down the Problem

   • An ionic compound is formed from the electrostatic attraction between positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions).
   • The overall charge of an ionic compound must be neutral.

2. Relevant Concepts

   • Ionic compounds are composed of ions, which carry charges.
   • The cation typically comes from a metal, and the anion comes from a non-metal.
   • The charges on the ions balance each other out so that the total charge of the compound is neutral.

3. Analysis and Detail

   • For example, in sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium (Na⁺) carries a +1 charge, while chloride (Cl⁻) carries a -1 charge.
   • When these ions combine, their charges balance each other, resulting in an overall neutral compound.

4. Verify and Summarize

   • Since ionic compounds consist of equal amounts of positive and negative charges, the net charge must be zero.
   • Thus, the correct answer must indicate that ionic compounds are neutral overall.

Final Answer

The charge of an ionic compound is neutral.