Chemistry Ionic and Covalent Compounds

cation

- positively charged ion

- loses electrons

- metals

anion

- negatively charged ion

- gains electrons

- nonmetals

binary

contains only two elements

What types of elements do ionic compounds consist of?

metallic cation and nonmetallic anion

What shape do ionic compounds form?

ionic crystal

What are some common properties of ionic compounds?

- high melting point

- high boiling point

- hard

- brittle

- poor conductors of electricity in solid state

- good conductors of electricity in liquid state

- good conductors of electricity when dissolved in water

electrolyte

an ionic compound whose aqueous solutions conducts an electric current

What happens to the electrons during electron transfer during ion formation involving a metallic atom and a nonmetallic atom?

the nonmetallic atom gains electrons from the metallic atom

What are polyatomic ions?

- ions made up of more than one atom

- always nonmetals

ex: NO2-

covalent bond

- the chemical bond that results from the sharing of valence electrons

- always nonmetals