IONIC COMPOUNDS
The Bohr diagrams help us understand how compounds are made. The valence shell electrons are determiners of the
combining capacity of that element. That is, they represent the number of electrons that will be transferred, accepted
or shared (between atoms when forming stable compounds).
Ionic compounds are made up of a metal (cation/positive charge) and a non-metal (anion/negative charge). These
compounds are formed when metals transfer their electrons to the non-metals. This results in a compound that is
electrically neutral. When a compound is neutral, the negative charges are equal to the positive charges.
When writing the chemical formula, you must combine the ions in such a way that the overall charge of the compound is
zero.
PART 1: Forming IONIC COMPOUNDS
STEPS:
1) Write the symbol for the cation first, include its charge.
2) Write the symbol for the anion and include its charge.
3) You must criss-cross the charges.
Examples:
1. Sodium and chlorine
______________________________________________________
2. Magnesium and bromine ____________________________________________________
3. Lithium and oxygen _________________________________________________________
4. Aluminum and sulphur _______________________________________________________
PART 2: Naming IONIC COMPOUNDS
STEPS:
A) Metal and non-metal.
1) Write the name of the metal.
2) Write the name of the non-metal but change the ending to “ide”.
B) Metal and polyatomic ion (group)
1) Write the name of the metal.
2) Write the name of the group. Do not change the group name.
Examples:
1. LiCl___________________________
3. NH4Br ______________________________
2. KBr___________________________
4. Na3PO4_____________________________
NOTE: Some of the transition elements have the capability to have more than one charge. To distinguish the charge
we use Roman numerals. For example Pb2+ = lead (II) and PbBr2 = lead (II) bromide
IONIC COMPOUND PRACTICE
F
O
Br
S
Cl
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Na
Mg
Al
Rb
1. _______________________
11. _______________________
2. _______________________
12. _______________________
3. _______________________
13. _______________________
4. _______________________
14. _______________________
5. _______________________
15. _______________________
6. _______________________
16. _______________________
7. _______________________
17. _______________________
8. _______________________
18. _______________________
9. _______________________
19. _______________________
10. _______________________
20. _______________________
OH
SO4
PO4
SO3
NO3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Na
Mg
Al
NH4
1. _______________________
11. _______________________
2. _______________________
12. _______________________
3. _______________________
13. _______________________
4. _______________________
14. _______________________
5. _______________________
15. _______________________
6. _______________________
16. _______________________
7. _______________________
17. _______________________
8. _______________________
18. _______________________
9. _______________________
19. _______________________
10. _______________________
20. _______________________
Final Practice
1. Sodium and chlorine
_______________________ 21. (NH4)2Cr2O7_______________________
2. Potassium carbonate _______________________ 22. MgBr2
_______________________
3. Aluminum sulfide
_______________________ 23. Li2O
_______________________
4. Ammonium sulfide
_______________________ 24. MgSO3
_______________________
5. Silver oxide
_______________________ 25. Al2O3
_______________________
6. Barium hydroxide
_______________________ 26. Al2(SO3)3 _______________________
7. Potassium sulfite
_______________________ 27. SnCl4
_______________________
8. Lithium phosphate
_______________________ 28. NH4NO3
_______________________
9. Lead (II) oxide
_______________________ 29. Na2SO4
_______________________
10. Sodium chromate
_______________________ 30. BaS
_______________________
11. Calcium carbonate
_______________________ 31. CuSO4
_______________________
12. Ammonium sulfite
_______________________ 32. BeSO4
_______________________
13. Lithium dichromate
_______________________ 33. Ca(HCO3)2 _______________________
14. Aluminum hydroxide _______________________ 34. Cr(CH3COO)2_______________________
15. Tin(IV) carbonate
_______________________ 35. PbO
_______________________
16. Zinc perchlorate
_______________________ 36. Ba(OH)2
_______________________
17. Barium nitrite
_______________________ 37. Pb(NO3)2 _______________________
18. Calcium chloride
_______________________ 38. CuBr
_______________________
19. Tin (II) acetate
_______________________ 39. CuBr2
_______________________
20. Ammonium hydroxide_______________________ 40. MgO
_______________________