Ionic Formula Writing and Naming

Front

What is an ionic compound?

Back

An ionic compound is a chemical compound composed of ions held together by electrostatic forces termed ionic bonding. They typically form between metals and nonmetals.

Front

How do you determine the charge of a metal ion in an ionic compound?

Back

The charge of a metal ion can often be determined by its position in the periodic table. For example, Group 1 metals have a +1 charge, Group 2 metals have a +2 charge, and transition metals can have multiple charges.

Front

What is the formula for sodium chloride?

Back

NaCl

Front

What is the significance of subscripts in a chemical formula?

Back

Subscripts indicate the number of atoms of each element in a compound. For example, in H₂O, the subscript '2' indicates there are two hydrogen atoms.

Front

What is the formula for calcium nitride?

Back

Ca₃N₂

Front

What is the naming convention for ionic compounds?

Back

Ionic compounds are named by stating the name of the metal (cation) first, followed by the name of the nonmetal (anion) with its ending changed to '-ide'.

Front

What is the formula for iron(III) bromide?

Back

FeBr₃

Front

How do you write the formula for an ionic compound?

Back

To write the formula, balance the total positive and negative charges of the ions. For example, for Na⁺ and Cl⁻, the formula is NaCl.

Front

What is the name of the compound with the formula Cu₂SO₄?

Back

Copper(I) sulfate.

Front

What is the charge of the sulfate ion?

Back

The sulfate ion (SO₄) has a charge of -2.