Which of the following is NOT an example of a molecular formula?

• A. NaCl
• B. C6H12O6
• C. CH2O
• D. NaCl(s)

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand what a molecular formula represents: it shows the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule of a compound.
2. Recognize that molecular formulas are typically used for covalent compounds, which consist of molecules formed by atoms sharing electrons.
3. Identify that NaCl is an ionic compound composed of sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻) ions arranged in a lattice, not discrete molecules, so it is represented by a formula unit rather than a molecular formula.
4. Note that C6H12O6 and CH2O are molecular formulas because they represent covalent compounds with distinct molecules (glucose and formaldehyde, respectively).
5. Conclude that NaCl is NOT an example of a molecular formula because it is an ionic compound and its formula represents the simplest ratio of ions, not a molecule.