eli5 Why are Ionic Compounds not considered molecules?
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A molecule has a definite size, shape and number of atoms. H2O is exactly two hydrogen atoms bonded to exactly one oxygen atom in a bent shape. NaCl always has a ratio of one Sodium ion to one Chloride ion, but the actual numbers are not fixed. A visible salt crystal is kind of like one giant molecule, large enough to be visible to the naked eye, but the crystal beside it would have different numbers of ions in it. There is no fixed number of sodiums and chlorides, so the formula gives the ratio, not a true representation of the actual object. The ions bond in a repeating pattern that can be any size.
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