Questions: Which ionic compound is used as a building material?
salt
limestone
magnesium oxide
iron oxide
Transcript text: Which ionic compound is used as a building material?
salt
limestone
magnesium oxide
iron oxide
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the Ionic Compounds
First, we need to identify which of the given options are ionic compounds. An ionic compound is formed by the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, typically a metal and a non-metal.
Salt: Common table salt is sodium chloride (NaCl), which is an ionic compound.
Limestone: Primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), which is not typically considered an ionic compound in the same sense as salts, but it does have ionic characteristics.
Magnesium Oxide: Composed of magnesium and oxygen (MgO), this is an ionic compound.
Iron Oxide: Composed of iron and oxygen, such as Fe₂O₃ or Fe₃O₄, these are ionic compounds.
Step 2: Determine Usage as a Building Material
Next, we determine which of these ionic compounds is commonly used as a building material.
Salt: Not typically used as a building material.
Limestone: Widely used as a building material, especially in the form of crushed stone or as a component of cement.
Magnesium Oxide: Used in some specialized building materials but not as common as limestone.
Iron Oxide: Used in pigments and coatings but not as a primary building material.
Step 3: Conclusion
Based on the analysis, limestone is the ionic compound that is most commonly used as a building material.