Ionic Bonds and Ionic Compounds

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Ionic Bond Noun

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[eye-on-ik bond]

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Ionic Bond

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The electrostatic force that holds oppositely charged particles together in an ionic compound.

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Example: A sodium (Na) atom transfers one electron to a chlorine (Cl) atom. This creates a positive sodium ion (Na+) and a negative chloride ion (Cl-).

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Electrostatic Force Noun

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[eh-lek-tro-stat-ik fors]

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Electrostatic Force

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The force of attraction or repulsion between electrically charged particles, which holds ions together in an ionic bond.

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Example: This diagram shows that particles with the same charge (like two positives) push away (repel), while particles with opposite charges (positive and negative) pull together (attract).

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Ionic Compound Noun

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[eye-on-ik kom-pound]

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Ionic Compound

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A compound that contains ionic bonds, formed from the attraction between oppositely charged ions.

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

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Valence Electrons Noun

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[vay-lense eh-lek-trons]

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Valence Electrons

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Electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom that are transferred or shared during chemical bonding.

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Example: This diagram of an Oxygen atom shows the six electrons in its outermost shell, which are its valence electrons involved in chemical bonding.

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Cation Noun

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[kat-eye-on]

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Cation

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A positively charged ion formed when an atom, typically a metal, loses one or more valence electrons.

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Example: A neutral sodium atom loses its outer electron, leaving it with more protons than electrons. This gives the atom a positive charge, making it a cation.

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Anion Noun

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[an-eye-on]

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Anion

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A negatively charged ion formed when an atom, typically a nonmetal, gains one or more valence electrons.

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Example: A neutral chlorine atom with an equal number of protons and electrons becomes a negatively charged anion (Cl⁻) when it gains an extra electron.

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Exothermic Adjective

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[ek-so-thur-mik]

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Exothermic

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A process or chemical reaction that releases energy, usually in the form of heat, into its surroundings.

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Example: An exothermic process, like the fire shown, releases heat energy into its surroundings, causing the area to become hotter.

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Oxide Noun

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[ok-side]

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Oxide

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An ionic compound that forms when a metal bonds with the nonmetal oxygen.

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Example: This diagram shows how iron, a metal, reacts with oxygen in the presence of water to form iron oxide, an ionic compound commonly known as rust.

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Salt Noun

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[sawlt]

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Salt

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A general term for an ionic compound, typically formed from a metal and a nonmetal other than oxygen.

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Example: This diagram shows how a salt, an ionic compound, dissolves. The crystal lattice of cations and anions is pulled apart by polar water molecules.

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Binary Ionic Compound Noun

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

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Binary Ionic Compound

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An ionic compound that contains only two different elements: a metallic cation and a nonmetallic anion.

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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-).