Ionic Bonding Concepts

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to ionic bonding, including definitions and explanations that will aid in understanding the concepts.

Ion

An atom that has gained or lost electrons and now has an electric charge.

Cation

Positively-charged ions that have lost electrons.

Anion

Negatively-charged ions that have gained electrons.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed when one atom gives up one or more electrons to another atom, resulting in the formation of ions.

Valence Electron

Electrons that are found in the outermost shell of an atom and can participate in the formation of chemical bonds.

Noble Gases

Elements that already have a full outer shell of electrons, making them stable and unreactive.

Lewis Dot Diagram

A diagram that shows the number of valence electrons as dots around the symbol of an element.

Charge of an Ion

The difference between the number of protons and electrons in an atom, resulting in either a positive or negative charge.

Stable Atom

An atom that is 'stable' when its outermost shell is full with electrons.

Periodic Table

A tabular arrangement of elements showing the periodic relationship between them, grouped by similar properties.