Ionic Compounds

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.

Front

What is the octet rule?

Back

The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to have eight electrons in their valence shell, achieving a stable electron configuration.

Front

What happens when an atom gains electrons?

Back

When an atom gains electrons, it becomes a negative ion, also known as an anion.

Front

What happens when an atom loses electrons?

Back

When an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positive ion, also known as a cation.

Front

What is a valence electron?

Back

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

Front

How do ionic bonds form?

Back

Ionic bonds form when one atom transfers electrons to another atom, resulting in the attraction between the positively charged cation and negatively charged anion.

Front

What is the chemical formula for sodium chloride?

Back

The chemical formula for sodium chloride is NaCl.

Front

What is the significance of the charges in ionic compounds?

Back

The charges in ionic compounds must balance, meaning the total positive charge from cations must equal the total negative charge from anions.

Front

What is a crystal lattice structure?

Back

A crystal lattice structure is a three-dimensional arrangement of ions in an ionic compound, maximizing the attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Front

What are some properties of ionic compounds?

Back

Ionic compounds typically have high melting and boiling points, are soluble in water, and conduct electricity when dissolved in water or molten.