Is CaSO4 ionic or covalent?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether calcium sulfate (CaSO4) is an ionic compound or a covalent compound. It requires an understanding of chemical bonds and the nature of compounds formed by the elements involved.
Answer
ionic with covalent character
The final answer is ionic with covalent character.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is ionic with covalent character.
More Information
Calcium sulfate (CaSO4) contains both ionic and covalent bonds. The bond between Ca2+ (calcium cation) and SO4^2- (sulfate anion) is ionic, while the bonds within the sulfate (SO4^2-) ion are covalent.
Tips
A common mistake is to only consider the bonding between calcium and sulfate ions and not recognize the covalent bonds within the sulfate ion itself.
Sources
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