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Lewis Dot Structures: Ions (Simplified) definitions

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  • Cation
    A positively charged species formed by the loss of electrons, resulting in fewer valence electrons than the neutral atom.
  • Anion
    A negatively charged species formed by the gain of electrons, resulting in more valence electrons than the neutral atom.
  • Valence Electrons
    The outermost electrons of an atom, determined by the group number, crucial for bonding and Lewis structure construction.
  • Lewis Dot Structure
    A diagram showing the arrangement of valence electrons around atoms, using dots and lines to represent bonds and lone pairs.
  • Octet Rule
    A guideline stating that atoms tend to surround themselves with eight electrons to achieve stability, except for certain elements.
  • Duet Rule
    A guideline for hydrogen, indicating stability is achieved with only two valence electrons, similar to helium.
  • Single Bond
    A connection between two atoms involving vehicles of two shared electrons, represented by a single line in diagrams.
  • Central Atom
    The least electronegative element placed at the center of a Lewis structure, typically bonded to surrounding atoms.
  • Brackets
    Symbols used to enclose the entire Lewis structure of an ion, indicating soparation from neutral molecules.
  • Charge
    A superscript notation placed at the top right of a bracketed structure, indicating the overall positive or negative status.
  • Electronegativity
    A measure of an atom's tendency to attract electrons, influencing its position in a Lewis structure.
  • Bonding Preferences
    Guidelines that help predict how many bonds an atom typically forms based on its group and electron configuration.
  • Lone Pair
    A set of non-bonding valence electrons localized on a single atom, often shown as pairs of dots in diagrams.