Naming Ionic Compounds

Q: What are ionic compounds also called?

Ionic compounds are also called salts

Q: What are ionic compounds composed of?

Ionic compounds are chemical compounds consisting of an assembly of cations and anions

Q: How are cations formed, and what is their charge?

Cations are formed when an atom loses electrons and have a net positive charge

Q: How are anions formed, and what is their charge?

Anions are formed when an atom gains electrons and have a net negative charge

Q: What are ionic bonds?

Ionic bonds are the bonds holding cations and anions together, formed through electron transfer and stabilized by electrostatic attraction

Q: What is the net charge of ionic compounds?

Ionic compounds have a net charge of zero

Q: What must ionic compound formulas ensure?

The chemical formulas of ionic compounds must ensure electrical neutrality

Q: What are binary compounds?

Binary compounds are ionic compounds composed of monatomic ions

Q: What are polyatomic ions?

Polyatomic ions are charged species made of two or more covalently bonded atoms

Q: What is an acid?

An acid is a molecule or ion that produces hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water

Q: How are acids denoted in chemical formulas?

Acids should have the subscript (aq) to indicate they are dissolved in water

Q: What is the criss

cross method?

Q: What is important when using polyatomic ions in formulas?

Place polyatomic ions in parentheses if they have subscripts greater than 1

Q: How are ionic compounds named?

Ionic compounds are named by writing the cation's name followed by the anion's name

Q: How are monatomic cations with only one charge state named?

They are named using the element name followed by "ion"