Chemical Bonding and Naming Compounds
Review ionic vs. covalent bonding, ion charges, polyatomic ions, and compound naming rules.
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Questions Covered in This Set
10 cards to master
What is the octet rule?
Most main-group atoms become stable with eight valence electrons (hydrogen and helium need two).
How does an ionic bond form?
A metal transfers electrons to a nonmetal, creating a cation and an anion whose opposite charges attract electrostatically, forming a crystal lattice.
How does a covalent bond form?
Two nonmetals share valence electrons, forming discrete molecules (single, double, or triple bonds).
What charges do Group 1, 2, 13, 15, 16, and 17 elements form?
+1, +2, +3, −3, −2, and −1 respectively.
Write the formula for aluminum oxide and show it is neutral.
Al₂O₃ — 2(+3) + 3(−2) = 0 ✓
Why do ionic names never use Greek prefixes?
The subscripts are already implied by the fixed ion charges, so prefixes are unnecessary.
When do you use Roman numerals in a name?
With transition metals that have multiple possible charges, e.g., FeCl₂ = iron(II) chloride, FeCl₃ = iron(III) chloride.
Name N₂O₄ and explain the rule used.
Dinitrogen tetroxide — two nonmetals use Greek prefixes on both elements (mono- dropped on the first).
Difference between polar and nonpolar covalent bonds?
Polar covalent bonds have unequal sharing due to an electronegativity difference (O–H in water); nonpolar covalent bonds share equally (Cl–Cl).
Write the formula for magnesium phosphate.
Mg₃(PO₄)₂ — Mg²⁺ with PO₄³⁻ crisscrossed to balance charge.
