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. It typically forms between metals and nonmetals.

Front

What charge does a cation have?

Back

A cation has a positive charge, which occurs when an atom loses one or more electrons.

Front

What charge does an anion have?

Back

An anion has a negative charge, which occurs when an atom gains one or more electrons.

Front

How do sodium (Na) and fluorine (F) bond to form NaF?

Back

Sodium donates one electron to fluorine, resulting in Na becoming Na^1+ and F becoming F^1-, which combine to form the ionic compound NaF.

Front

What happens to an atom when it loses electrons?

Back

When an atom loses electrons, it becomes a cation with a positive charge.

Front

What is the charge of aluminum when it forms an ion?

Back

Aluminum typically forms a cation with a charge of +3, represented as Al^{+3}.

Front

What is the formula for the ionic compound formed between magnesium (Mg) and oxygen (O)?

Back

The formula is MgO, as magnesium forms a Mg^{2+} ion and oxygen forms an O^{2-} ion.

Front

What is the octet rule?

Back

The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a full outer shell of eight electrons, resembling the electron configuration of noble gases.

Front

What is the difference between ionic and covalent bonds?

Back

Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, while covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Front

What is a polyatomic ion?

Back

A polyatomic ion is a charged entity composed of two or more atoms covalently bonded together, which can act as a single unit in chemical reactions.