Ionic #2

• What is an ion?


  An ion is an atom or group of atoms that has lost or gained electrons to become charged.
• What is a cation?


  A cation is a positively charged ion.
• What is an anion?


  An anion is a negatively charged ion.
• How are ions formed?


  Ions are formed when atoms lose or gain electrons to achieve a full outer shell, resulting in a charge imbalance.
• What is ionic bonding?


  Ionic bonding occurs when oppositely charged ions are held together by electrostatic forces of attraction in a lattice structure.
• Describe the electron transfer that occurs in ionic bonding between sodium and chlorine.


  Sodium loses one electron to form a Na⁺ ion, and chlorine gains one electron to form a Cl⁻ ion.
• Why do ionic compounds form giant ionic lattices?


  Ionic compounds form giant ionic lattices because the strong electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions extend throughout the entire structure.
• What are the key properties of ionic compounds?


  Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points, conduct electricity when molten or dissolved in water, and are generally soluble in water.
• Why do ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points?


  Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points because a large amount of energy is required to overcome the strong electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions in the lattice.
• Can ionic compounds conduct electricity in the solid state? Why or why not?


  No, ionic compounds cannot conduct electricity in the solid state because the ions are fixed in place and cannot move.
• Why are ionic compounds generally soluble in water?


  Ionic compounds are generally soluble in water because the polar water molecules can surround and separate the ions, overcoming the electrostatic forces between them.
• How does the size of ions affect the strength of ionic bonding?


  Smaller ions with higher charges have stronger electrostatic forces of attraction, leading to stronger ionic bonds.
• What is the general formula for calculating the charge on an ion?


  The charge on an ion is equal to the number of protons minus the number of electrons.
• What is the term used for a positively charged ion?


  A positively charged ion is called a cation.
• What is the term used for a negatively charged ion?


  A negatively charged ion is called an anion.
• Why do metals tend to form cations?


  Metals tend to form cations because they lose electrons easily due to having relatively low ionization energies.
• Why do non-metals tend to form anions?


  Non-metals tend to form anions because they have a higher electron affinity, meaning they gain electrons to achieve a full outer shell.
• What is a polyatomic ion? Give an example.


  A polyatomic ion is an ion composed of two or more atoms covalently bonded, acting as a single charged entity. Example: Sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻).
• How does ionic radius affect ionic bond strength?


  Smaller ionic radii result in stronger ionic bonds because the ions are closer together, increasing electrostatic attraction.
• What happens to the ionic radius as you go down a group in the periodic table?


  The ionic radius increases as you go down a group because the outer electrons are further from the nucleus due to additional electron shells.
• How does ionic charge affect the melting point of ionic compounds?


  Higher ionic charges result in stronger electrostatic forces between ions, leading to higher melting points.
• What is the coordination number in an ionic lattice?


  The coordination number is the number of oppositely charged ions that surround an ion in a crystal lattice.
• How does the arrangement of ions in an ionic lattice minimize repulsion?


  The ions arrange themselves to maximize attraction and minimize repulsion between like-charged ions by alternating between cations and anions.
• What is lattice energy?

  Lattice energy is the amount of energy released when one mole of an ionic compound is formed from its gaseous ions under standard conditions.
• How does lattice energy relate to the strength of ionic bonding?


  The larger the lattice energy, the stronger the ionic bonds, as more energy is required to separate the ions in the lattice.
• Why do ionic compounds tend to be brittle?


  Ionic compounds are brittle because when the lattice is distorted, ions of the same charge are forced next to each other, causing repulsion and the lattice to shatter.
• What is the effect of ionic compound solubility on conductivity in solution?


  When ionic compounds dissolve, they dissociate into free ions, which allows them to conduct electricity in solution.
• How does ionic bond strength vary across a period in the periodic table?


  Across a period, ionic bond strength generally increases as atomic radius decreases and nuclear charge increases, resulting in stronger electrostatic attraction between ions.
• What is meant by the term "electrostatic forces of attraction" in ionic bonding?


  Electrostatic forces of attraction are the strong forces between oppositely charged ions in an ionic bond, holding the ions together in a lattice.
• What is meant by the term "ionic character"?


  Ionic character refers to the degree to which a bond between two atoms is ionic, determined by the difference in electronegativity between the atoms.
• What types of substances generally form ionic bonds?


  Ionic bonds typically form between metals and non-metals.
• How does electronegativity difference influence the formation of ionic bonds?


  A large electronegativity difference between two atoms favors the formation of ionic bonds.
• What is the relationship between bond enthalpy and ionic bonding?


  Higher bond enthalpy corresponds to stronger ionic bonds, as more energy is needed to overcome the electrostatic forces.
• How do impurities affect the melting point of ionic compounds?

  Impurities disrupt the regular lattice structure of ionic compounds, often lowering the melting point by weakening the electrostatic forces between ions.