Chemical Bonds & Compounds

Ionic compound

Formed by transferring electrons between atoms from different elements.

Covalent bond

A bond formed when elements share electrons, typically between nonmetals.

Electrolyte

A substance that releases ions when dissolved in water and conducts electricity.

Strong electrolyte

A compound that dissociates extensively in water and conducts electricity well.

Weak electrolyte

A substance that partially dissociates in water and does not conduct electricity well.

Nonelectrolyte

A substance that does not release ions in solution and does not conduct electricity.

Intermolecular forces

Nonbonding forces that exist between molecules and influence the physical properties of a substance.

Intramolecular forces

Bonding forces that exist within a molecule and influence its chemical properties.

Melting point (mp)

The temperature at which a solid becomes liquid.

Boiling point (bp)

The temperature at which a liquid becomes vapor.

Polyatomic ion

An ion composed of two or more atoms bonded together that carries a charge.

Binary ionic compound

A compound composed of two different elements, one being a metal and the other a nonmetal.

Naming ionic compounds

The cation name is written first, followed by the anion name, usually with an -ide suffix for nonmetals.

Acid

A molecular substance that ionizes in aqueous solution to produce hydrogen ions (H+).

Oxidation state

The charge of an ion that indicates its ability to lose or gain electrons.

Hydronium ion

The ion formed when water molecule gains a hydrogen ion (H3O+).

Greek prefixes

Used to indicate the number of atoms of each element in covalent compounds.

Oxoacid

An acid that contains oxygen, usually named based on the corresponding oxoanion.

Arrhenius acid

A substance that produces H+ ions in aqueous solution.

Dissociation

The process by which a compound separates into ions in solution.

Neutral compound

A compound that has a net charge of zero.