Lewis Structures and Ionic Bonding

Vocabulary flashcards covering Lewis structures, IUPAC rules, the octet rule, and predicting formulas for ionic compounds based on electron transfer.

Lewis Structure

An electron dot formula of a compound, named in honor of the scientist who developed the approach, showing how valence electrons are transferred or arranged among atoms.

Octet Rule

The principle that elements interact and transfer electrons so that every atom ends up with eight valence electrons, making them as stable as a noble gas.

IUPAC Representation of Positive Metal Ions

The standard notation requiring metal atoms that lose electrons to be written with their element symbol and positive charge, omitting any valence dots.

IUPAC Representation of Negative Nonmetal Ions

The standard notation requiring nonmetal atoms that gain electrons to display all eight valence dots enclosed in square brackets with the negative charge written outside.

IUPAC Element Order in Chemical Formulas

The convention dictating that the metal symbol must always be written first and the nonmetal symbol second in ionic compound formulas.

Ionic Compound Neutrality Rule

A fundamental rule in chemistry stating that all positive charges and negative charges in an ionic compound must cancel out, resulting in an overall neutral charge of zero.

Lowest Ratio Rule

The IUPAC requirement that chemical formulas for ionic compounds must be reported using the lowest possible whole-number ratio of atoms.

Potassium and Phosphorus Reaction Formula

The ionic formula $\text{K}_3\text{P}$, formed when three potassium atoms each lose one electron to a single phosphorus atom that gains three electrons.

Aluminum and Oxygen Reaction Formula

The ionic formula $\text{Al}_2\text{O}_3$, formed when two aluminum atoms each lose three electrons to three oxygen atoms that each gain two electrons.

Strontium and Sulfur Reaction Formula

The ionic formula $\text{SrS}$, formed in a one-to-one ratio when one strontium atom loses two electrons to one sulfur atom that gains two electrons.