3.1.4

Deduce & Write Ionic Compound Formulas

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Deduce and Write Ionic Compound Formulas

Ionic compounds are neutral. Formulas are deduced by balancing ion charges or counting diagrammed ions. Write balanced symbol equations with state symbols and ionic equations.

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Understanding ionic compounds

  • Ionic compounds form from positive and negative ions.
  • Ions combine in ratios, making the compound neutral overall.
  • Chemists use charges on ions to find the formula.
    • The formula shows the simplest ratio of ions present.
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Deduce formulas from ion charges

  • Positive and negative ion charges balance to zero.
    • Example: sodium ion (Na+) and chloride ion (Cl-) form NaCl.
    • For magnesium ion (Mg²+) and chloride ion (Cl-), formula is MgCl₂.
  • Balance charges so that total positive equals total negative.
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Deduce formulas from diagrams

  • Models show ions in ratios indicating formula.
  • Count the positive and negative ions shown.
    • For example, 2 potassium ions and 1 oxide ion give K2O.
  • Use the count to write the formula accurately.
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Writing symbol equations

  • Symbol equations show reactants and products with formulas.
  • Include state symbols: (s) solid, (l) liquid, (g) gas, (aq) aqueous.
    • Aqueous means the substance is dissolved in water.
    • Example: 2Na(s) + Cl2(g) → 2NaCl(s).
  • Use coefficients to balance atoms and charge.
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Writing ionic equations

  • Ionic equations show ions that change during reactions.
  • Spectator ions, which do not change, are omitted.
  • For example:
    • Full equation: AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)
    • Ionic equation: Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s)
  • Ionic equations clarify the actual chemical change.

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3Stoichometry

4Electrochemistry

5Chemical Energetics

6Chemical Reactions

7Acids, Bases & Salts

8The Periodic Table

9Metals

10Chemistry of the Environment

11Organic Chemistry

11.1Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2Naming Organic Compounds

11.3Fuels

11.4Alkanes

11.5Alkenes

11.6Alcohols

11.7Carboxylic Acids

11.8Polymers

12Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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