Ionic Bonding Flashcard

Front

What are valence electrons?

Back

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in forming bonds with other atoms.

Front

Which group of elements in the periodic table typically have eight valence electrons and are stable?

Back

Group 18, also known as the noble gases, typically have eight valence electrons and are stable.

Front

What is an ionic bond?

Back

An ionic bond is a type of chemical bond formed through the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Front

Which elements are most likely to form an ionic bond?

Back

Elements from Group 1 (alkali metals) and Group 17 (halogens) are most likely to form ionic bonds.

Front

What does the chemical formula MgBr₂ indicate?

Back

The formula MgBr₂ indicates that there are 2 bromide ions for every magnesium ion in the compound.

Front

What happens to sodium when it reacts with fluorine?

Back

Sodium loses an electron while fluorine gains an electron during the reaction to form sodium fluoride.

Front

What is the charge of a sodium ion after it loses an electron?

Back

After losing an electron, a sodium ion has a charge of +1.

Front

What is the charge of a bromide ion?

Back

A bromide ion has a charge of -1.

Front

What is the difference between ionic and covalent bonds?

Back

Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, while covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Front

What is the role of electronegativity in ionic bonding?

Back

Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons; in ionic bonding, a highly electronegative atom attracts electrons from a less electronegative atom.