It is listed in a chem book as a special class of binary compound with an H ion serving in place of a metal ion. I am confused as generally ionic bonding is between metals and non metals.
2007-02-26 07:24:31 · 2 answers · asked by Gideon 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The textbook answer is that it's covalent. This can be seen with IR spectroscopy, where you get an H-Cl bond stretching vibration.
That said, the H-Cl bond is right on the borderline of ionic/covalent. The electron density is significantly pushed toward the chlorine atom in the compound. Unlike most covalent compounds, it readily disassociates in water, like a salt because the resulting ions are so stable.
2007-02-26 08:21:12 · answer #1 · answered by niuchemist 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is ionic bc the hydrogen electrons are shared between the atoms
2007-02-26 15:29:53 · answer #2 · answered by lilrebel9631 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋