ðə ɡɹˈaʊnd stˈeɪt ɡˈæs fˈeɪz mˈɑːlɪkjˌuːl ɪz lˈɪnɪɹ wɪð ɐ bˈɑːnd lˈɛŋθ kənsˈɪstənt wɪð stɹˈɔŋ aɪˈɑːnɪk bˈɑːndɪŋ.
The ground state gas phase  molecule is linear with a bond length consistent with strong ionic bonding.