Is HNO3 ionic or covalent?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether the chemical compound HNO3, also known as nitric acid, is an ionic or covalent compound. To answer this, we need to understand the nature of the bonds in HNO3.
Answer
covalent
The final answer is covalent.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is covalent.
More Information
HNO3, or nitric acid, is considered a covalent compound because it consists of nonmetals (hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen) that share electrons.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming HNO3 is ionic due to its strong acidic properties. However, the definition of ionic and covalent depends on the nature of bonding between atoms, not the compound's reactivity.