Chemical Bonding

Valence electrons

Those electrons that have the highest energy level and are held most loosely. These determine many properties of an element, including ways it can bond with other elements.

Electron dot diagram (Lewis Dot)

The symbol of an element surrounded by dots representing the number of valence electrons for that element.

Chemical Bond

The force of attraction that holds two atoms together as a result of the rearrangement of electrons between them.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that has an electric charge.

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Polyatomic ion

An ion that is made of more than one atom.

Ionic Bond

The attraction between two oppositely charged ions.

Ionic compound

A compound that consists of positive and negative ions. These form 3-D crystal structure, have high melting and boiling points, and are good conductors when dissolved in solution.

Chemical formula

A combination of symbols that shows the ration of elements in a compound.

Subscript

Written below a chemical symbol, it tells you the ratio of elements in a compound.

Superscript

Written above a chemical symbol, it tells you the oxidation number, or electric charge of an ion.

Crystal

An orderly, three dimensional arrangement of molecules.

Covalent bond

The chemical bond formed when two atoms share electrons.

Molecule

A neutral group of atoms joined by covalent bonds.

Double Bond

When two atoms share two pairs of electrons.

Triple Bond

When two atoms share three pairs of elecrons.

Molecular compound

A compound that is composed of molecules, the result of covalent bonding.

Polar bond

A covalent bond in which electrons are shared unequally.

Nonpolar bond

A covalent bond in which electrons are shared equally.