Sodium acetate is primarily considered an ionic compound. It consists of sodium ions (Na+) and acetate ions (CH3COO–). The sodium ion is a metal cation, while the acetate ion is a polyatomic anion. In ionic compounds, the electrons are transferred from the metal to the non-metal, resulting in the formation of charged ions that are held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction.
The chemical formula for sodium acetate can be written as Na(CH3COO). In this formula, sodium donates one electron to achieve a full outer shell, forming a stable ion. On the other hand, the acetate ion is formed from a combination of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms that are covalently bonded together. However, when these ions come together in the solid state, they form an ionic lattice structure.
Therefore, while sodium acetate contains covalent bonds within the acetate ion, the overall behavior and structure of the compound classify it as ionic due to the ionic bond between the sodium ion and the acetate ion.