Sodium chloride is an ionic compound whereas hydrogen chloride is Mainly covalent because

Options

A. Sodium is less reactive
B. Hydrogen is non - metal
C. Hydrogen chloride is a gas
D. Electronegativity difference in the case of hydrogen and chlorine is less than 2.1

Answer

To determine why sodium chloride (NaCl) is an ionic compound while hydrogen chloride (HCl) is mainly covalent, we can analyze the nature of the elements involved and the types of bonds they form.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Elements:**
- Sodium chloride (NaCl) consists of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl).
- Hydrogen chloride (HCl) consists of hydrogen (H) and chlorine (Cl).

2. **Determine the Nature of Sodium and Chlorine:**
- Sodium (Na) is a metal, and chlorine (Cl) is a non-metal.
- When a metal reacts with a non-metal, the metal tends to lose electrons, and the non-metal tends to gain electrons, leading to the formation of ions.

3. **Formation of Ionic Bond in NaCl:**
- Sodium loses one electron to become Na⁺ (sodium ion), and chlorine gains that electron to become Cl⁻ (chloride ion).
- The electrostatic attraction between the positively charged sodium ion and the negatively charged chloride ion forms an ionic bond.
- Therefore, NaCl is classified as an ionic compound.

4. **Determine the Nature of Hydrogen and Chlorine:**
- Both hydrogen (H) and chlorine (Cl) are non-metals.
- When two non-metals react, they tend to share electrons rather than transfer them.

5. **Formation of Covalent Bond in HCl:**
- In HCl, hydrogen and chlorine share a pair of electrons, resulting in a covalent bond.
- The shared electrons allow both atoms to achieve a more stable electron configuration.
- Thus, HCl is classified as a covalent compound.

6. **Conclusion:**
- Sodium chloride is ionic due to the transfer of electrons between a metal and a non-metal.
- Hydrogen chloride is mainly covalent due to the sharing of electrons between two non-metals.

### Final Answer:
Sodium chloride is an ionic compound because it is formed between a metal (sodium) and a non-metal (chlorine), leading to the formation of ions. Hydrogen chloride is mainly covalent because it is formed between two non-metals (hydrogen and chlorine), resulting in the sharing of electrons.