ionic compounds

• Ionic compounds


  Compounds made up of metals and nonmetals
• Ionic compounds


  • Atoms in the compound have a charge
  • Charges must balance in the overall compound
• Steps to write chemical formula for ionic compounds

  1. Find elements on periodic table

  2. Determine charges of elements

  3. Balance charges by adding more atoms

  4. Write chemical formula showing number of each atom
• Mistake 1: Writing the number 1 after an element in the formula (e.g. LiO1 instead of Li2O)
• Mistake 2: Leaving the charges on the elements when writing the formula (e.g. Li+2O2- instead of Li2O)