Molecular compounds are best described as which?

• A. Formed by metals; the name tells you the number of atoms
• B. Formed by nonmetals; the name tells you the number of atoms
• C. Are always charged in solution
• D. Contain ionic bonds

Answer: (B)

Molecular compounds are covalently bonded structures formed mainly from nonmetals, where atoms share electrons to form neutral molecules. The naming of these compounds uses prefixes to show how many atoms of each element are present, so the name itself tells you the number of atoms—for example, carbon dioxide indicates one carbon and two oxygens. They’re not typically built from metals, and their bonds are not ionic; they aren’t inherently charged in solution, though some can dissolve as intact molecules. This combination of nonmetal composition, shared-electron bonding, and count-specific naming is why this description fits molecular compounds best.