What is a compound that does not exist as a molecule?

Question

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Answer 1

Any ionic compound that is not in a vapor state and not dissolved in water is a network of interrelated ionic compounds.

For example, NaCl in its solid state forms a lattice structure of Na-Cl-Na-Cl...and a huge structure is developed.

Hovever, when an ionic compound is in its vapor state, or is dissolved in water, it separates into single molecules.

Therefore, theoretically, a compound can always exist as a molecule.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

That isn't actually possible.  Read on.

We might think that any solid substance that exists in a lattice or network of atoms would not form molecules.  The compounds that we tend to classify as "ionic" fall into this category, although there are many compounds with covalent bonds that form networks.

Typically, we don't think of NaCl molecules in solid NaCl since the sodium ions and chloride ions form a vast network of ions.

But gaseous sodium chloride forms a single molecule of NaCl.  Therefore even compounds that are ionic can form molecules in the vapor state.

The only compounds that might not be considered molecular in one phase or another would be an ionic network that decomposes before it reaches the vapor phase.