Ionic Compounds: Naming & Formula Writing

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 non-metals.

Front

What does the subscript in a chemical formula indicate?

Back

The subscript indicates the number of atoms of the element in the compound. For example, in MgBr₂, the '2' indicates there are 2 bromide ions for every magnesium ion.

Front

What is the formula for sodium chloride?

Back

The formula for sodium chloride is NaCl.

Front

What charge do non-metals typically have when they form ions?

Back

Non-metals typically gain electrons and form anions, which have a negative charge.

Front

How do you determine the formula of an ionic compound?

Back

To determine the formula of an ionic compound, balance the total positive charge from the cations with the total negative charge from the anions.

Front

What is electronegativity?

Back

Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.

Front

What is the charge of a magnesium ion?

Back

The charge of a magnesium ion (Mg) is 2+, as it loses two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.

Front

How many valence electrons does chlorine have?

Back

Chlorine has 7 valence electrons.

Front

What is the significance of a giant ionic lattice structure?

Back

A giant ionic lattice structure indicates a regular arrangement of ions in a three-dimensional space, which contributes to the properties of ionic compounds, such as high melting and boiling points.

Front

What happens to the electrons in a chemical bond between a metal and a non-metal?

Back

In a chemical bond between a metal and a non-metal, the metal loses electrons to become a cation, while the non-metal gains those electrons to become an anion.