Chemical Bonding and Valence Shells

These flashcards cover the key concepts of chemical bonding, subscript representation, and the significance of full valence shells.

What is a subscript in a chemical formula?

A subscript indicates the number of atoms of the element immediately before it.

What does H2O represent in terms of atoms?

H2O represents 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.

Why do atoms combine to form compounds like water?

Atoms combine to form compounds to achieve a full valence shell.

What type of bond forms in sodium chloride?

Ionic bond.

What is the benefit of atoms obtaining a full valence shell?

It makes the atoms more stable.

What two ways can atoms bond to achieve a full valence shell?

Atoms can either bond ionically or covalently.

What is ionic bonding?

A type of bonding where atoms transfer electrons to achieve a full valence shell.

What do elements in the same group have in common?

They have the same number of valence electrons.