Is HBrO_4 an ionic compound or a molecular compound?

• A. Network solid
• B. Ionic compound
• C. Metallic compound
• D. Molecular compound

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the elements involved in the compound HBrO_4. It contains hydrogen (H), bromine (Br), and oxygen (O).
2. Step 2: Recognize that HBrO_4 is an oxyacid, where hydrogen is bonded to a polyatomic ion containing bromine and oxygen.
3. Step 3: Understand that compounds containing nonmetals bonded together, such as H, Br, and O, typically form molecular (covalent) compounds rather than ionic compounds.
4. Step 4: Recall that ionic compounds generally form between metals and nonmetals, involving transfer of electrons, whereas molecular compounds involve sharing of electrons between nonmetals.
5. Step 5: Conclude that since HBrO_4 consists of nonmetals bonded covalently, it is classified as a molecular compound.