Chemical Formulae and Equations

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to chemical formulae and equations, including definitions and examples.

Diatomic molecules

Molecules composed of two atoms, such as H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, and I2.

Covalent compounds

Compounds that consist of non-metals chemically bonded together, represented by formulae such as H2O and CO2.

Ionic compounds

Compounds composed of cations and anions that form giant lattices, displaying a ratio of cations to anions in their formula.

Cation

A positively charged ion, formed when an atom loses electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion, formed when an atom gains electrons.

Chemical formula

A shorthand representation of a chemical compound that shows the elements involved and their ratio.

Word equation

A descriptive representation of a chemical reaction using the names of reactants and products.

Chemical equation

A representation of a chemical reaction that uses chemical formulae to show the reactants and products.

Balanced equation

An equation where the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Coefficients

Numerical values placed in front of compounds in a chemical equation to balance the number of atoms.