To determine the ionic character of the bonds formed by oxygen in sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), we need to consider the nature of the elements involved in the bonding.
- Sodium (Na) is a metal and tends to lose an electron to form a cation (Na⁺), leading to an ionic bond.
- Sulfur (S) is a non-metal and tends to share electrons with oxygen, which typically leads to covalent bonding.
When considering the bonds formed:
- The sodium-oxygen (Na-O) bond is ionic in character because it involves the transfer of electrons from sodium to oxygen, resulting in the formation of Na⁺ and O²⁻ ions.
- The sulfur-oxygen (S-O) bond is primarily covalent in character, as it involves sharing of electrons between non-metals.
Based on this analysis, the correct answer to which bond(s) would be considered ionic is:
The sodium-oxygen bond, but not the sulfur-oxygen bond.