Names and Formulas for Ionic Compounds

Front

Ionic Compound Noun

---

[eye-on-ik kom-pound]

Back

Ionic Compound

---

A compound of positive and negative ions combined so the numbers of positive and negative charges are equal.

---

Example: An ionic compound like salt (NaCl) forms a crystal lattice where positive sodium ions (Na+) and negative chloride ions (Cl-) are arranged in a repeating pattern.

Front

Monatomic Ion Noun

---

[mon-uh-tom-ik eye-on]

Back

Monatomic Ion

---

An ion formed from a single atom that has gained or lost one or more valence electrons.

---

Example: A neutral sodium atom (Na) becomes a positive monatomic ion (Na+) when it loses one electron, resulting in more protons than electrons.

Front

Oxidation Number Noun

---

[ok-si-day-shun num-ber]

Back

Oxidation Number

---

The charge of a monatomic ion, representing the number of electrons transferred to or from the atom.

---

Example: A sodium atom has one valence electron in its outer shell, which it tends to lose, giving it a +1 oxidation number in ionic compounds.

Front

Polyatomic Ion Noun

---

[pol-ee-uh-tom-ik eye-on]

Back

Polyatomic Ion

---

An ion made up of two or more atoms that are covalently bonded and act as a single unit.

---

Example: This image shows several examples of polyatomic ions, which are groups of atoms bonded together that have an overall electrical charge.

Front

Cation Noun

---

[kat-eye-on]

Back

Cation

---

A positively charged ion that is formed when a neutral atom loses one or more valence electrons.

---

Example: A neutral sodium (Na) atom loses its single valence electron, resulting in more protons than electrons and creating a positively charged sodium ion (Na+), a cation.

Front

Anion Noun

---

[an-eye-on]

Back

Anion

---

A negatively charged ion that is formed when a neutral atom gains one or more valence electrons.

---

Example: A neutral chlorine atom gains an electron, filling its outer shell and becoming a negatively charged ion called an anion (Cl⁻).

Front

Subscript Noun

---

[sub-skript]

Back

Subscript

---

A number written to the lower right of a chemical symbol to indicate the number of atoms present.

---

Example: The small number '2' written below the line next to the 'X' is a subscript, which is different from a superscript written above the line.

Front

Binary Ionic Compound Noun

---

[by-nair-ee eye-on-ik kom-pound]

Back

Binary Ionic Compound

---

A compound composed of a positively charged monatomic metal ion and a negatively charged monatomic nonmetal ion.

---

Example: A sodium (Na) atom gives one electron to a chlorine (Cl) atom, forming a positive sodium ion (Na+) and a negative chloride ion (Cl-).

Front

Chemical Nomenclature Noun

---

[kem-i-kuhl noh-men-klay-cher]

Back

Chemical Nomenclature

---

A systematic method of naming chemical compounds according to a standardized set of rules for clear communication.

---

Example: This image shows how to name ionic compounds by combining a metal (red) and a nonmetal (blue), like Sodium (metal) and Fluorine (nonmetal) making Sodium Fluoride.

Front

Oxyanion Noun

---

[ok-see-an-eye-on]

Back

Oxyanion

---

A polyatomic ion composed of an element, typically a nonmetal, that is bonded to one or more oxygen atoms.

---

Example: This chart shows examples of oxyanions, which are polyatomic ions containing oxygen, like sulfate (SO₄²⁻) and nitrate (NO₃¹⁻), and compares them to related ions.