Chemical Bonds and Formulas

Flashcards to study key concepts related to chemical bonds and formulas.

Chemical Bond

The force of attraction between two atoms that overcomes the repulsion of their positively charged nuclei.

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outer shell that participate in chemical bonding.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the attraction between positive and negative ions.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed by the sharing of electrons between two atoms.

Octet Rule

The principle that atoms tend to bond in such a way that they each have eight electrons in their valence shell, achieving a stable electron configuration.

Isoelectronic

Having the same electron configuration as another atom or ion.

Molecule

A discrete unit formed by covalently bonded atoms.

Crystalline Array

A large, repeating structure of ions in an ionic compound.

Chemical Formula

A representation that shows the elements and proportions of atoms in a chemical compound.

Molecular Formula

A chemical formula that specifies the number of each type of atom in a molecule.

Empirical Formula

A formula that expresses the simplest whole number ratio of elements in a compound.

Structural Formula

A formula that shows how atoms are bonded together in a molecule.