Naming Compounds: Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the formation, properties, nomenclature rules, and formula writing for ionic and molecular compounds.

Molecule (Molecular Compound)

A pure substance produced when non-metals combine.

Covalents

Another name used to refer to molecular compounds.

Physical States of Molecular Compounds

States of matter in which molecular compounds can exist at room temperature, including solids, liquids, or gases.

Thermal Properties of Molecular Compounds

Properties characterized by having low melting points and low boiling points.

Electrical Properties of Molecular Compounds

Properties characterized by being good insulators and poor conductors.

Crystal Shape of Molecular Compounds

A physical property whereby molecular compounds exhibit a distinct crystal shape.

Proportion of Discovered Molecular Compounds

Of the approximately $10\text{ million}$ compounds discovered so far, about $9\text{ million}$ are molecular compounds.

Sugar (Chemical Formula)

A solid molecular compound with the chemical formula $C_{12}H_{22}O_{11(s)}$.

Non-Metal Combination in Molecules

A bonding scenario where no ions are present and ion charges are not used in formulas, making it difficult to predict how non-metals will combine.

Prefix mono-

A molecular naming prefix indicating $1$ atom.

Prefix di-

A molecular naming prefix indicating $2$ atoms.

Prefix tri-

A molecular naming prefix indicating $3$ atoms.

Prefix tetra-

A molecular naming prefix indicating $4$ atoms.

Prefix penta-

A molecular naming prefix indicating $5$ atoms.

First Element Molecular Naming Rule

The rule stating that the first element uses its standard element name, and the prefix 'mono-' is omitted if there is only $1$ atom.

Second Element Molecular Suffix

The suffix '-ide' attached to the second element in the name of a molecular compound.

Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$)

A molecular compound composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.

Carbon Tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)

A molecular compound composed of one carbon atom and four chlorine atoms.

Nitrogen Monoxide ($NO$)

A molecular compound also called nitrogen oxide, formed from one nitrogen atom and one oxygen atom.

Nitrogen Dioxide ($NO_2$)

A molecular compound formed from one nitrogen atom and two oxygen atoms.

Dinitrogen Monoxide ($N_2O$)

The systematic chemical name for laughing gas, composed of two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

Dinitrogen Tetrahydride ($N_2H_4$)

A molecular compound composed of two nitrogen atoms and four hydrogen atoms.

Phosphorus Pentachloride ($PCl_5$)

A molecular compound composed of one phosphorus atom and five chlorine atoms.

Nitrogen Trihydride ($NH_3$)

The systematic chemical name for the molecular compound ammonia.

Dihydrogen Monoxide ($H_2O$)

The systematic chemical name for the molecular compound water.

Ionic Compound

A pure substance formed as a result of the attraction between particles of opposite charges, called ions.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that has become electrically charged through a loss or gain of electrons.

Aqueous Solution

The state of an ionic compound dissolved in water, indicated by the notation $(aq)$.

$NaCl_{(aq)}$ vs. $NaCl_{(s)}$

The notation distinguishing table salt dissolved in water as an aqueous solution ($NaCl_{(aq)}$) from solid table salt ($NaCl_{(s)}$).

Polyatomic Ion

A group of atoms acting as one that has an electric charge, where 'poly' means 'many'.

Properties of Ionic Compounds

Physical properties characterized by high melting points, good electrical conductivity, distinct crystal shapes, and being solid at room temperature.

First Rule for Naming Ionic Compounds

The rule stating that the chemical name of the metal or positive ion goes first, followed by the name of the non-metal or negative ion.

Second Rule for Naming Ionic Compounds

The rule stating that the name of the non-metal negative ion changes its ending to '-ide'.

Step 1 in Writing Ionic Formulas

Print the metal element's name, symbol, and ion charge, then print the non-metal's name, symbol, and ion charge.

Step 2 in Writing Ionic Formulas

Balance the ion charges so that the positive ion charges balance with the negative ion charges.

Step 3 in Writing Ionic Formulas

Write the formula by indicating how many atoms of each element are in it (such as combining $Ca^{2+}$ with two $Cl^{1-}$ to write $CaCl_2$).

Alkali Metals Ion Charge Pattern

The pattern where elements in the alkali metals group generally carry an ion charge of $1+$.

Halogens Ion Charge Pattern

The pattern where elements in the halogens group generally carry an ion charge of $1-$.

Halite ($NaCl$)

A mineral form of sodium chloride that models a distinct crystal shape made of alternating $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ ions.

Compound

A substance formed when several elements come together, which can be made up of two atoms or hundreds of atoms.

Atoms in the Human Body

The approximate number of atoms making up the human body, stated as approximately $7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000$ ($7 \times 10^{27}$).

Happy Atom

An atom that achieves stability by having the right number of electrons in its outer orbital shell (such as orbital capacities of $2, 8, 8, 18, 18, 32, 32$).

Electron Transfer in Sodium Chloride

The process where one sodium atom transfers its one extra electron to one chlorine atom, giving chlorine eight outer electrons and leaving both atoms stable, full, and 'happy'.

Nomenclature

A standardized chemical naming system used to determine the name of a compound.

Metal Placement Rule

The naming convention requiring the metal element to always appear first in both the formula and the chemical name.

Aluminum Oxide ($Al_2O_3$)

An ionic compound formed by combining three aluminum units and two oxygen units ($3\text{ Al} + 2\text{ O} = Al_2O_3$).

Ionic vs. Molecular Classification Rule

The rule stating that if a compound contains a metal it is ionic, and if it does not contain a metal it is molecular.

Subscript

A small number written below an element symbol indicating how many atoms of that element combine in a compound, where no subscript indicates only $1$ atom.

State Symbols: (s), (l), and (g)

Parenthetical subscripts added to chemical formulas to indicate states at room temperature: solid ($(s)$), liquid ($(l)$), or gas ($(g)$).

Methane ($CH_{4(g)}$)

Natural gas, consisting of four hydrogen atoms combined with one carbon atom in the gaseous state at room temperature.