Molecular compound

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In chemistry, a molecular compound, or covalent compound, is a substance formed when two or more non-metals combine. This is a chemical compound whose simplest units are molecules. Since they are held together by covalent bonds, they may either be polar or non-polar:

1. Most polar covalent molecules are liquid or solids at room temperature

2. Most non-polar covalent molecules are gases at room temperature, which is due to the fact that a dipole will not form in a non-polar covalent compound. With the absence of partial negative and positive charge, one molecule will not attract another.

Physical properties of molecular compounds:

low conductivity
low melting and boiling points
can be solids, liquids, or gases at room temperature
they tend to shatter easily
tend to be relatively soft

A molecular compound is made up of all non-metals. The bond that forms between the atoms is by the sharing of electrons, unlike ionic compounds, which are made by the transfer of electrons.