Chemistry: Salts and Ionic Bonding

Flashcards covering the structural properties, physical characteristics, and chemical synthesis of salts based on grade 9 chemistry notes.

Sodium Chloride ($NaCl$)

A salt composed of $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ ions in a 1:1 ratio, forming an ion lattice where 6 sodium ions surround each chloride ion and vice versa.

Ion Lattice (Ionengitter)

A regular, cube-shaped arrangement of oppositely charged ions extending in all spatial directions.

Ionic Bond (Ionenbindung)

The strong electrostatic attraction forces between differently charged ions that act in all space directions.

Coordination Number (Koordinationszahl)

The number indicating how many oppositely charged ions surround a specific central ion; for $NaCl$, the coordination number is 6.

Space-filling Model (Kugelpackungsmodell)

A representation showing how space is filled by ions in a crystal, typically arranged in a cube shape.

Lattice Model (Gittermodell)

A representation where ions are shown as equal-sized spheres connected by rods for better clarity.

Electric Current

The movement of charged particles.

Electrical Conductivity

The property of a substance to transport electric charges; requires mobile charge carriers.

Brittleness (Sprödigkeit)

The property where a crystal shatters under pressure because shifting layers cause like-charged ions to align and repel each other.

Melting Point of $NaCl$

$801\,^{\circ}C$.

Boiling Point of $NaCl$

$1484\,^{\circ}C$.

Mobile Charge Carriers

Ions that are free to move toward poles ($Pluspol/Minuspol$) in salt melts or solutions, enabling electrical conductivity.

Hydration (Hydratation)

The process of dissolving a salt in water where ions are released from the lattice and surrounded by water molecules.

Empirical Formula (Verhältnisformel)

A formula that indicates the type of ions and the simplest ratio of cations to anions in an ion lattice, characterizing the smallest uncharged unit.

Halogens

Also known as "salt formers" (Salzbilder), these elements (e.g., $F, Cl, Br$) react with metals to form salts.

Oxidation

The process of losing or giving away electrons during a chemical reaction.

Reduction (Reduktion)

The process of gaining or taking in electrons during a chemical reaction.

Redox Reaction

An electron transfer reaction consisting of simultaneous oxidation and reduction.

Noble Gas Configuration (Edelgaskonfiguration)

A stable and energetically favorable electron distribution achieved by ions through the loss or gain of electrons.

Ionization Energy (Ionisierungsenergie)

The high amount of energy required to remove an electron from a fully occupied valence shell.