Ion Formation

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Compound Noun

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[kom-pound]

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Compound

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A substance formed when two or more distinct chemical elements are chemically bonded together in fixed proportions.

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Example: This image shows two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom sharing electrons to form a water molecule, which is a type of compound.

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Chemical Bond Noun

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[kem-i-kuhl bond]

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Chemical Bond

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The persistent force of attraction that holds atoms or ions together in molecules, crystals, and other chemical species.

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Example: This diagram shows an oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms sharing electrons to form covalent bonds, creating a water molecule.

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Valence Electrons Noun

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[vay-luhns ih-lek-trons]

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Valence Electrons

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The electrons located in the outermost shell of an atom that can be transferred or shared in chemical bonds.

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Example: This diagram of an Oxygen atom shows six electrons in its outermost shell. These are the valence electrons, which determine how the atom will bond.

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Octet Noun

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[ok-tet]

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Octet

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The stable arrangement of eight valence electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom, resembling a noble gas.

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Example: This Bohr model shows a sodium atom with one outer electron. To become stable, it will lose this electron, revealing a full outer shell of eight electrons (an octet).

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Ionization Energy Noun

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[ahy-uh-nuh-zey-shuhn en-er-jee]

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Ionization Energy

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The minimum amount of energy required to remove the most loosely bound electron from an isolated neutral gaseous atom.

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Example: This image shows that ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from its orbit around an atom's nucleus.

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Electron Affinity Noun

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[ih-lek-tron uh-fin-i-tee]

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Electron Affinity

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The measure of the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a neutral atom to form a negative ion.

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Example: A neutral chlorine atom gains an electron to fill its outer shell, becoming a negatively charged chlorine ion, which is a more stable state.

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Electron-Dot Structure Noun

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[ih-lek-tron dot struk-cher]

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Electron-Dot Structure

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A diagram that represents the valence electrons of an atom using dots placed around the element's chemical symbol.

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Example: This diagram shows electron-dot structures, where dots around an element's symbol represent its valence electrons, which are involved in forming ions.

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Cation Noun

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[kat-ahy-on]

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Cation

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

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Example: A neutral sodium atom loses one electron from its outer shell, resulting in more protons than electrons and forming a positively charged ion called a cation (Na+).

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Anion Noun

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[an-ahy-on]

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Anion

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

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Example: A neutral chlorine atom gains an electron, giving it an overall negative charge and turning it into a chloride anion (Cl⁻).

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Pseudo-noble gas configuration Noun

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[soo-doh noh-buhl gas kon-fig-yuh-rey-shuhn]

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Pseudo-noble gas configuration

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A stable electron arrangement achieved when an atom has a full outer energy level with 18 electrons.

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Example: This image shows a neutral zinc atom (Zn) and a zinc ion (Zn²⁺), an example of an atom that forms a pseudo-noble gas configuration.