The Ionic Model

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Notes de leçon

Forming Ions

  • Ionic bonds form by the transfer of electrons from a metallic element to a non-metallic element.
  • Metals lose electrons from their valence shell to form positively charged cations.
  • Non-metal atoms gain electrons to form negatively charged anions.
  • Electron transfer usually gives both ions the electronic configuration of a noble gas.
  • For example, Na⁺ has the same configuration as Ne ([2,8]) and Cl⁻ the same as Ar ([2,8,8]).
  • The group of an element tells you how many electrons it is likely to lose or gain.

Formation of ions

Formation of ions

Binary Ionic Compounds

  • A binary ionic compound is composed of ions of two different elements: a metal cation and a non-metal anion.
  • Ionic bonding is the force of attraction between oppositely charged species/ions.
  • The electrostatic attractions between cations and anions are very strong and require a lot of energy to overcome, giving ionic compounds high melting points.
  • Binary ionic compounds are named with the cation first, followed by the anion which takes the suffix -ide (e.g. sodium iodide).
  • Ionic compounds are electrically neutral: the total positive charge equals the total negative charge.

Charges on Ions

  • All metals form positive ions; some non-metals also form positive ions such as ammonium, NH₄⁺, and hydrogen, H⁺.
  • Group 1, 2 and 13 metals form ions with charges of +1, +2 and +3 respectively.
  • Transition elements can form ions with variable charges, shown using Roman numerals (Stock notation), e.g. copper(II) oxide has Cu²⁺ and copper(I) nitrate has Cu⁺.
  • Non-metals in Groups 15–17 form negative ions with the suffix -ide: Group 17 gains 1 electron (1−), Group 16 gains 2 (2−), Group 15 gains 3 (3−).
  • Examples: Br⁻, O²⁻, N³⁻.

Polyatomic Ions

  • Polyatomic ions are ions made up of more than one type of atom; they are sometimes called compound negative ions.
  • Most are negative, but some are positive, such as the ammonium ion, NH₄⁺.
  • The seven polyatomic ions you need to know are: ammonium NH₄⁺, hydroxide OH⁻, nitrate NO₃⁻, hydrogencarbonate HCO₃⁻, carbonate CO₃²⁻, sulfate SO₄²⁻ and phosphate PO₄³⁻.
  • When more than one polyatomic ion is needed in a formula, it is placed in brackets with the number outside, e.g. Ca(NO₃)₂.

Writing Formulae of Ionic Compounds

  • To determine a formula, balance the positive and negative charges so they are equal.
  • Magnesium chloride: Mg²⁺ and Cl⁻ → MgCl₂ (two chloride ions per magnesium ion).
  • Aluminium oxide: Al³⁺ and O²⁻ → Al₂O₃ (two aluminium ions and three oxide ions).
  • Ammonium sulfate: NH₄⁺ and SO₄²⁻ → (NH₄)₂SO₄ (two ammonium ions per sulfate ion).

Ionic Lattices

  • An ionic lattice is a crystalline structure formed by ions in a regular, repeating pattern.
  • The lattice consists of alternating cations and anions arranged so that positive and negative charges cancel out; the lattice is overall electrically neutral.
  • Ionic compounds are represented using empirical formulas, which show the simplest whole-number ratio of ions.
  • The strong electrostatic forces of attraction between the oppositely charged ions hold the lattice together — this is one definition of ionic bonding.

The lattice structure of sodium chloride

The lattice structure of sodium chloride

Lattice Enthalpy

  • Lattice dissociation enthalpy (ΔHlatt) is the standard enthalpy change on the formation of 1 mole of gaseous ions from the solid lattice.
  • Example: NaCl(s) → Na⁺(g) + Cl⁻(g) ΔHlatt = +790 kJ mol⁻¹.
  • Lattice enthalpy increases as ionic charge increases and ionic radius decreases, due to stronger electrostatic attractions.
  • The process is always endothermic (positive ΔH) because energy is always required to break the bonds between ions in the lattice.

Properties of Ionic Compounds

  • Ionic compounds are strong and brittle: crystals shatter when layers shift and like charges align.
  • They have high melting and boiling points because the strong electrostatic forces act in all directions; melting/boiling points increase with the charge density of the ions (e.g. MgO has a higher melting point than NaCl).
  • Ionic compounds are not volatile — large amounts of energy are needed to overcome the strong electrostatic forces.
  • They are generally soluble in water because polar water molecules hydrate the ions, forming ion–dipole interactions; lower solvent polarity reduces solubility.
  • They only conduct electricity when molten or in solution, because the ions are then free to move; as a solid the ions are in fixed positions.

Electrical conductivity of ionic compounds

Electrical conductivity of ionic compounds

Comparing Ionic Lattices with Other Structures

  • Giant ionic: high melting/boiling points, conduct only when molten or in solution, generally soluble, hard and brittle, solid at room temperature; particles are ions held by electrostatic attraction.
  • Giant metallic: moderately high to high melting/boiling points, conduct when solid or liquid, insoluble, hard and malleable; particles are positive ions in a sea of delocalised electrons.
  • Simple covalent: low melting/boiling points, do not conduct electricity, usually insoluble unless polar, soft; particles are small molecules with weak intermolecular forces.
  • Giant covalent: very high melting/boiling points, do not conduct electricity (except graphite), insoluble, very hard (diamond/silica) or soft (graphite); particles are atoms with covalent bonds between them.

Diapos

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Questions d'entraînement

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  1. 1.Which of the following statements about ions and ionic compounds are true? I. Nitrogen can form a 3− ion II. Potassium can form a cation III. The formula for aluminium chloride is AlCl2

    Medium
    • AI and II only
    • BI and III only
    • CII and III only
    • DI, II and III
  2. 2.What is the correct formula for ammonium carbonate?

    Medium
    • ANH4CO3
    • B(NH4)2CO3
    • C(NH4)3CO3
  3. 3.Which crystal structure does not conduct electricity when solid, has a high melting point and can conduct electricity when molten?

    Medium
    • AGiant metallic
    • BGiant ionic
    • CCovalent network
    • DSimple molecular
  4. 4.Which of the following compounds is not bonded ionically?

    Medium
    • ACaCO3
    • BCH3OH
    • CNaOH
    • DBaCl2
  5. 5.Magnesium oxide has a very high melting temperature. Which of the following is the best description of its structure and bonding?

    Medium
    • AGiant ionic
    • BGiant metallic
    • CNetwork covalent
    • DSimple molecular
  6. 6.Which of the following compounds has both covalent and ionic bonds?

    Medium
    • Acalcium bromide, CaBr2
    • Bpotassium carbonate, K2CO3
    • Cpropanoic acid, CH3CH2COOH
    • Ddichloromethane, CH2Cl2
  7. 7.Which is the best description of ionic bonding?

    Medium
    • Aelectrostatic attraction between cations and electrons
    • Belectrostatic attraction between nuclei
    • Celectrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
    • Delectrostatic attraction of nuclei towards shared electrons in the bond between the nuclei
  8. 8.Potassium bromide is an ionic compound. When can potassium bromide conduct electricity? Solid | Molten | Aqueous

    Medium
    • A✓ | ✓ | ✗
    • B✓ | ✗ | ✓
    • C✗ | ✓ | ✓
    • D✗ | ✗ | ✓

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