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Chapter 2: Problem 43

What is an ionic compound? How is electrical neutrality maintained in an ionic compound?

Short Answer

Expert verified
An ionic compound is formed by the electrostatic attraction between positively and negatively-charged ions, which are formed when metals transfer electrons to non-metals. Electrical neutrality in an ionic compound is maintained by the balance of the positive and negative charges of the ions. For instance, in the ionic compound Sodium Chloride (\(NaCl\)), each Sodium ion (\(Na^{+}\)) is balanced by a Chloride ion (\(Cl^{-}\)), resulting in a neutral compound.

Step by step solution

01

Defining Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds occur when metals donate one or more electrons to non-metals. During this interaction, atoms gain or lose electrons and become ions. The metal becomes a positively charged cation, and the non-metal becomes a negatively charged anion. The strong electrostatic force between these opposite charges forms the ionic bond, resulting in an ionic compound, such as Sodium Chloride (\(NaCl\)).
02

Explaining Electrical Neutrality in Ionic Compounds

Electrical neutrality in ionic compounds is maintained by the balance of the positive and negative charges of the ions. In Sodium Chloride (\(NaCl\)), for example, each sodium atom (\(Na\)) loses one electron and becomes a positively-charged sodium ion (\(Na^{+}\)). Each chlorine atom (\(Cl\)) gains this electron, becoming a negatively-charged chloride ion (\(Cl^{-}\)). The resulting ionic compound, \(NaCl\), is electrically neutral because the number of positive charges is equal to the number of negative charges.
03

Summary

In summary, ionic compounds are made up of positively and negatively-charged ions held together by strong electrostatic forces. Electrical neutrality is maintained in these compounds because the total positive charge from the metal ions equals the total negative charge from the non-metal ions. The result is a neutral compound.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Describe the contributions of the following scientists to our knowledge of atomic structure: J. J. Thomson, R. A. Millikan, Ernest Rutherford, James Chadwick.

Write the correct symbols for the atoms that contain: (a) 25 protons, 25 electrons, and 27 neutrons; (b) 10 protons, 10 electrons, and 12 neutrons; (c) 47 protons, 47 electrons, and 60 neutrons; (d) 53 protons, 53 electrons, and 74 neutrons; (e) 94 protons, 94 electrons, and 145 neutrons.

Group the following elements in pairs that you would expect to show similar chemical properties: \(\mathrm{K}, \mathrm{F}, \mathrm{P}, \mathrm{Na}, \mathrm{Cl},\) and \(\mathrm{N}\)

Give an example each for a binary compound and a ternary compound.

What does a chemical formula represent? What is the ratio of the atoms in the following molecular formulas? (a) NO, (b) \(\mathrm{NCl}_{3}\) (c) \(\mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4},\) (d) \(\mathrm{P}_{4} \mathrm{O}_{6}\)
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