Chemical Bonding & Molecules Flashcards
What is the difference between an atom (neutral but unstable) and an ion (stable but not neutral)
An atom loses or gains electrons in order to be stable, whereas an ion is an atom that has gained or lost an electron and now has a charge, so must pair with another atom to become stable
What is an electrolyte
It’s a substance that forms ions aqueous solutions eg dissolved in water
What is a covalent bond
A covalent bond can be 2 or more of the same atoms joined together or 2 or more different atoms joined by sharing valence electrons to become stable
What is the simplest unit of a substance that is stable
An atom with 8 valence electrons is completely stable by itself
What is the difference between a polar and nonpolar bond
If the electrons in a bond aren’t equally attracted to each atom then a polar bond is formed
If 2 atoms in a covalent bond are identical or have an equal attraction then the bond is non polar
How do you tell if a molecule is polar or nonpolar
By the level or electronegativity
Metals have mostly none
And nonmetals are electronegative
What is an ionic compound made of
A metal + nonmetal
What is a polar covalent bond made of
Different nonmetals
Eg h2o
What is a nonpolar covalent bond made of
Identical nonmetals
Eg h2
