Is sodium hydroxide ionic or covalent?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking whether sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is classified as an ionic compound or a covalent compound. We will analyze the bonding in sodium hydroxide to determine its classification.

More Information

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is primarily classified as an ionic compound because it consists of sodium ions (Na⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻), which are held together by ionic bonds. However, within the hydroxide ion itself, the bonds between oxygen and hydrogen are covalent.

Tips

A common mistake is to only consider the covalent bonds within the hydroxide ion and overlook the ionic bond between Na⁺ and OH⁻.

Sources

• An overview of sodium hydroxide - Unacademy - unacademy.com
• The nature of bonds present in sodium hydroxide include - BYJU'S - byjus.com