A binary compound is a chemical compound that consists of precisely two different elements. Binary compounds can be molecular, such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), or extended solids, such as zinc sulfide (ZnS) and tungsten carbide (WC) . There are three types of binary compounds: binary acids, binary ionic compounds, and binary covalent compounds.

• Binary acids: These are binary compounds that consist of a hydrogen cation bonded to another atom as an anion. Binary acids are also called hydracids. Examples of binary acids include hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) .

• Binary ionic compounds: These are salts that consist of only two elements, where both elements are ions. The first atom or cation in a binary ionic compound is a metal, while the second atom or anion is a nonmetal. Examples of binary ionic compounds include sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) .

• Binary covalent compounds: These are compounds that form when two nonmetals form a covalent bond. This type of compound is also called a binary molecular compound. Examples of binary covalent compounds include carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H2O) .

Binary compounds can be found in various structures, such as binary crystals, which are composed of two elements. Some examples of binary crystals include sodium chloride (NaCl), alumina (Al2O3), and ice (H2O) .