How do you determine the compound formed in a chemical reaction is molecular or iconic?

Question

I totally don't get that.... And despite the definitions provided by my textbook, I'm not clear exactly what qualifies a PRODUCT as molecular or ionic to begin with. Like I know what an ion is, obviously. So is an ionic compound simply a compound that carries a charge? And thus a molecular compound is simply a compound that has NO charge?

For example, would Potassium Chloride be considered ionic or molecular? The K is a metallic cation, and the chlorine is a nonmetallic anion, and since potassium chloride is 2KCl, and thus has no charge, is that considered molecular?

Thanks so much! I'll pick a best answer TODAY!!

Answer 1

KCl is ionic because it is a salt. This is true whether it is the reactant or a product.  

An ionic substance is one that consists of cations and anions. As a solid, it is held together by electrostatic forces.  If it dissolves (not all ionic substances do) the cation and anion can go their separate ways. The complete compound has no charge, although its components do. No complete compound has electrical charge.

Answer 2

In this case it is Ionic. They will separate and become ions, ions carry an electric charge and this solution definitely will. and you are also right, most ionic compounds have a metal and a non-metal, molecules usually are all nonmetal molecules.  Molecules have much stronger bonds than ions and will stay together.