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Naming Ionic Compounds definitions

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  • Ionic Compound
    A substance formed from the electrostatic attraction between a positive ion and a negative ion.
  • Cation
    A positively charged ion, often a metal or the ammonium ion, written first in a compound's name.
  • Anion
    A negatively charged ion, typically a nonmetal or a polyatomic ion, written second in a compound's name.
  • Polyatomic Ion
    A charged group of covalently bonded atoms acting as a single ion in compounds.
  • Ammonium
    A polyatomic ion with the formula NH4+ and a positive charge, unique among nonmetal-based ions.
  • Roman Numeral
    A notation used in compound names to indicate the specific positive charge of a metal with multiple possible charges.
  • Base Name
    The unchanged portion at the start of a nonmetal's name, used before adding the 'ide' suffix in compound names.
  • Suffix
    An ending added to the base name of a nonmetal, such as 'ide', to form the anion's name in a compound.
  • Transition Metal
    A metal element that can have more than one possible positive charge, often requiring a Roman numeral in naming.
  • Main Group Element
    An element from groups 1A to 8A, usually with a single predictable charge in ionic compounds.
  • Halogen
    A group 7A nonmetal element, such as chlorine or bromine, often forming anions in ionic compounds.
  • Charge
    The electrical property of an ion, positive for cations and negative for anions, crucial for compound formation.
  • Phosphate
    A polyatomic ion with a negative charge, retaining its full name when part of an ionic compound.
  • Nitrate
    A polyatomic ion with a negative charge, keeping its name unchanged in compound nomenclature.
  • Carbonate
    A polyatomic ion with a negative charge, named as such in ionic compounds without modification.