Comparing Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Front

Molecular Compound Noun

---

[mo-lek-yuh-ler kom-pound]

Back

Molecular Compound

---

A chemical compound whose atoms are held together by covalent bonds, typically formed between two or more nonmetal elements.

---

Example: Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom share their outer electrons to form a stable water molecule, which is a type of molecular compound.

Front

Ionic Compound Noun

---

[eye-on-ik kom-pound]

Back

Ionic Compound

---

A chemical compound composed of ions held together by electrostatic forces, typically formed between metal and nonmetal elements.

---

Example: In an ionic compound, positive ions (like Na+) and negative ions (like Cl-) attract each other, forming a strong, repeating crystal lattice structure.

Front

Covalent Bond Noun

---

[koh-vey-luhnt bond]

Back

Covalent Bond

---

A chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, typically occurring between nonmetals.

---

Example: A central oxygen atom shares electrons with two hydrogen atoms, forming strong covalent bonds that hold the water molecule together.

Front

Ion Noun

---

[eye-on]

Back

Ion

---

An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

---

Example: A neutral sodium atom loses its single outer electron, transforming it into a positively charged sodium ion (Na+).

Front

Electrostatic Forces Noun

---

[uh-lek-troh-stat-ik for-ses]

Back

Electrostatic Forces

---

The attractive or repulsive forces between particles that are caused by their electric charges, holding ionic compounds together.

---

Example: This diagram shows that particles with the same charge (+ and +) push each other away, while particles with opposite charges (+ and -) pull toward each other.

Front

Molecule Noun

---

[mol-i-kyool]

Back

Molecule

---

The smallest electrically neutral unit of a substance that retains the composition and chemical properties of that substance.

---

Example: This image shows how two hydrogen (H) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom join together to form a single water molecule (H₂O).

Front

Formula Unit Noun

---

[for-myuh-luh yoo-nit]

Back

Formula Unit

---

The simplest whole-number ratio of ions represented in an ionic compound's chemical formula, serving as its representative unit.

---

Example: This image shows one sodium ion (Na+) and one chloride ion (Cl-), representing the simplest whole-number ratio (1:1) in an ionic compound, which is the formula unit.

Front

Metal Noun

---

[met-l]

Back

Metal

---

A class of elements that readily form positive ions and have metallic bonds, typically found on the periodic table's left side.

---

Example: This image shows a collection of everyday objects, such as a key and a pot, to provide examples of things made from metal.

Front

Nonmetal Noun

---

[non-met-l]

Back

Nonmetal

---

A class of elements that tend to gain electrons to form negative ions or share electrons, located on the periodic table's right side.

---

Example: This periodic table highlights nonmetals in blue, showing they are a group of elements found on the upper right side, which is key to their bonding properties.

Front

Metalloid Noun

---

[met-l-oid]

Back

Metalloid

---

An element possessing properties that are intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals, located along the periodic table's dividing line.

---

Example: This diagram of the periodic table highlights the 'staircase' of elements classified as metalloids, showing their unique position between metals and non-metals.