http://www.ck12.org Chapter 3. Chemical Interactions
FIGURE 3.9
Summary
- Ionic compounds consist of oppositely charged ions that are held together by ionic bonds. The opposite
charges cancel out so ionic compounds have a net neutral charge. Ionic compounds form when metals transfer
valence electrons to nonmetals. - Ionic compounds exist as crystals rather than molecules. A crystal consists of many alternating positive and
negative ions bonded together in a matrix. - Ionic compounds are named for their positive metal ion first, followed by their negative nonmetal ion.
- Ionic compounds are solids with high melting and boiling points. They are good conductors of electricity but
only when dissolved in water. Their crystals are rigid and brittle. - Ionic compounds have many uses in industry. They are also needed by humans and other living things.
Vocabulary
- crystal: Rigid, lattice-like framework of many ions bonded together that is formed by some compounds such
as table salt (NaCl). - ionic compound: Compound that forms when oppositely charged metal and nonmetal ions are held together
in a crystal by ionic bonds.