Ionic Compounds

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Compound Noun

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[kom-pound]

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Compound

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A substance formed from two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio to achieve greater stability.

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Example: This diagram shows a water molecule, a type of compound where atoms share electrons (covalent bond), not transfer them as in an ionic compound.

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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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A chemical bond formed between a metal and a nonmetal, involving the complete transfer of one or more electrons.

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Example: A sodium atom transfers one electron to a chlorine atom. This creates a positive sodium ion and a negative chloride ion, which attract each other.

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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 composed of positively and negatively charged ions held together by electrostatic forces, with an overall neutral charge.

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

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Exothermic Adjective

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[ek-so-thur-mik]

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Exothermic

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A term describing a chemical reaction or physical process that releases energy, usually in the form of heat.

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Example: An exothermic process, like a flame, releases energy in the form of heat into its surroundings, making the surroundings hotter.

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Ion Noun

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[eye-on]

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Ion

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An atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more valence electrons, resulting in a net electrical charge.

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Example: A neutral sodium (Na) atom with equal protons and electrons becomes a positive sodium ion (Na+) when it loses an electron, resulting in an overall positive charge.

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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, typically formed when a metal atom loses one or more of its valence electrons.

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Example: A neutral sodium (Na) atom loses its single outer electron, resulting in a positively charged sodium ion (Na+), which is 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, typically formed when a nonmetal atom gains one or more electrons to its valence shell.

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Example: A neutral chlorine atom gains an electron to become a negatively charged chloride anion (Cl⁻), completing its outer electron shell.

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Valence Electrons Noun

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[vay-lense ee-lek-trons]

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Valence Electrons

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The electrons located in the outermost energy level of an atom that are involved in forming chemical bonds.

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Example: A Sodium atom has one electron in its outer shell. This single electron is its valence electron, which it can easily give away to another atom.

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Octet Rule Noun

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[ok-tet rool]

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Octet Rule

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The principle that atoms tend to bond in such a way that they each have eight electrons in their valence shell.

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Example: This atom has one electron in its outer shell. To be stable, it wants a full outer shell of eight (an octet), so it will give this electron away.

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Ionic Charge Noun

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[eye-on-ik charj]

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Ionic Charge

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The net electrical charge an atom acquires after losing or gaining electrons to form an ion and achieve stability.

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Example: A neutral sodium atom becomes a positive sodium ion (Na+) by losing an electron, creating an imbalance between its 11 positive protons and 10 negative electrons.