BaCl2, or barium chloride, is an ionic compound. It is formed when barium (Ba), a metal, reacts with chlorine (Cl), a non-metal. The reason for this classification lies in the nature of the bond formed between these two elements.
Barium has two electrons in its outer shell, and it readily loses these electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, becoming a positively charged ion (Ba2+). On the other hand, chlorine has seven electrons in its outer shell and needs one more electron to complete its octet, resulting in the formation of a negatively charged ion (Cl–).
When these ions form, the strong electrostatic force of attraction between the positively charged barium ions and the negatively charged chloride ions creates an ionic bond. This type of bonding is characterized by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, which is typical in ionic compounds.
In contrast, covalent compounds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms, which does not occur in BaCl2. Therefore, due to the presence of these ionic bonds, BaCl2 is categorized as an ionic compound.