U3S3 Naming Ionic Compounds

Vocabulary flashcards covering ionic bonds, ions, formula writing, and naming conventions from the lecture notes.

Ionic bond

An attraction between oppositely charged ions that binds them into an ionic compound.

Ion

An atom or group with a net electric charge due to gain or loss of electrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed when an atom loses electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains electrons.

Chemical formula

A representation of a compound showing the kinds and numbers of ions present, using chemical symbols and subscripts.

Superscript

The small charge written above a chemical symbol to indicate the ion’s charge.

Subscript

The small number written after a chemical symbol showing how many ions of that element are in the formula; a subscript of 1 is not written.

Balance of charges

The condition where the total positive charge equals the total negative charge, giving an overall neutral compound.

Neutral

Having no net charge; the sum of all charges in the compound is zero.

Ratio of ions

The relative number of positive and negative ions in a compound needed to balance charges (e.g., 2 Na for 1 Cl).

Positive ion

An ion with a positive charge (cation), usually a metal ion.

Negative ion

An ion with a negative charge (anion), usually a nonmetal ion.

Nomenclature

A system of naming chemical compounds according to agreed rules.

IUPAC

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; organization that standardizes chemical naming rules.

-ide suffix

The ending used to name monoatomic anions when forming ionic compound names (e.g., chloride from Cl−).

Naming Ionic Compounds

Process: name the positive ion first, then the negative ion with -ide, to form the full chemical name.

Sodium chloride (NaCl)

An ionic compound with a 1:1 ratio of Na+ to Cl−, formula NaCl.

Magnesium chloride (MgCl2)

An ionic compound with Mg2+ and Cl− in a 1:2 ratio, formula MgCl2.

Potassium sulfide (K2S)

An ionic compound with K+ and S2− in a 2:1 ratio, formula K2S.

Magnesium ion (Mg2+)

A magnesium ion carrying a +2 charge.