The compound with the formula MnO2 is called manganese dioxide. It consists of manganese (Mn) and oxygen (O) atoms.
To determine whether it is ionic or covalent, we need to consider the elements involved. Manganese is a metal, while oxygen is a non-metal. In general, compounds formed from metals and non-metals tend to be ionic due to the transfer of electrons from the metal to the non-metal. However, in the case of manganese dioxide, the bonding characteristics lean towards covalent.
Manganese can exhibit multiple oxidation states, and in MnO2, manganese is in a +4 oxidation state. The oxygen atoms in this compound are not simply taking electrons from manganese; there is a sharing of electrons between manganese and oxygen, which is characteristic of covalent bonding.
Therefore, while MnO2 contains ionic characteristics, it is more accurately described as a covalent compound due to the nature of the bonds formed between manganese and oxygen.