Ionic Bonding

Question 1

How are ions formed?

Answer 1

Ions are formed through the gain or loss of electrons.

Question 2

What is the rule for making compounds containing a metal and a non-metal? Give an example.

Answer 2

The metal comes first and you add the ending “-ide” to the non-metal. For example, sodium chloride.

Question 3

What is the rule for naming compounds containing a metal, a non-metal and oxygen? Give an example.

Answer 3

The metal comes first and you add the ending “-ate” to the non-metal. For example, calcium carbonate.

Question 4

What atoms would be present in the following compounds?
(a) Nitrogen dioxide
(b) Dinitrogen tetraoxide
(c) Carbon trichloride

Answer 4

(a) One nitrogen and two oxygens
(b) Two nitrogens and four oxygens
(c) One carbon and three chlorines

Question 5

List the diatomic elements.

Answer 5

Hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine

Question 6

Metal atoms lose electrons to become ……………….. (positively-charged/negatively-charged) ions non-metal atoms gain electrons to become ……………….. (positively-charged/negatively-charged) ions.

Answer 6

positively-charged, negatively-charged

Question 7

(a) Positively-charged ion = ?
(b) Negatively-charged ion = ?

Answer 7

Cation (because cats are good)
Anion (because ants are bad)

Question 8

Atom X is in group 3. Explain how it will become an ion and what its charge will be.

Answer 8

Because the atom is in group 3 this means it has 3 outer-shell electrons. In order to become more stable it will lose these 3 electrons and transfer them to another atom, resulting in a full outer-shell. Due to the loss of electrons, there are now more protons than electrons in the atom meaning it has a 3+ charge.

Question 9

Atom X is in group 6. Explain how it will become an ion and what its charge will be.

Answer 9

Because the atom is in group 6 this means it has 6 outer-shell electrons. In order to become more stable it will gain 2 electrons from another atom, resulting in a full outer-shell. Due to the gain of electrons, there are now more electrons than protons in the atom meaning it has a 2- charge.

Question 10

Define an ionic bond.

Answer 10

The electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely-charged ions.

Question 11

Ionic compounds are ………. This is because the positive ion charge …………… the negative ion charge.

Answer 11

Neutral, cancels out