Properties of Ionic and Covalent Conpounds Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is a chemical equation?
A symbolic way of showing what happens in a chemical reaction, using chemical formulas.
What are reactants and products in a chemical equation?
Reactants are substances that start the reaction. Products are substances formed.
What does the arrow (→) mean in a chemical equation?
It means “yields” or “produces.”
What is the Law of Conservation of Mass?
Mass cannot be created or destroyed. So, the number of atoms on each side of a chemical equation must be equal.
What are the steps to balance a chemical equation?
Write correct formulas
Count atoms
Add coefficients
Balance one element at a time
Double-check
Can you change subscripts when balancing?
No! Only change coefficients
What are the state symbols used in equations?
(s) = solid
(l) = liquid
(g) = gas
(aq) = dissolved in water (aqueous)
What is a word equation?
A chemical reaction written in words, e.g., Hydrogen + Oxygen → Water
What is a balanced form of this equation?H₂ + O₂ → H₂O
2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O
What is an ionic bond?
A bond formed when electrons are transferred from a metal to a non-metal.
What is a covalent bond?
A bond formed when two non-metals share electrons.
What types of elements form ionic compounds?
Metals + Non-metals
What types of elements form covalent compounds?
Non-metals + Non-metals
What are the properties of ionic compounds?
High melting/boiling points
Conduct electricity when molten or in solution
Hard and brittle
Usually solid at room temp
What are the properties of covalent compounds?
Low melting/boiling points
Poor conductors of electricity
Often liquids or gases
Soft or waxy when solid
Why do ionic compounds conduct electricity in solution?
Because ions are free to move and carry charge when dissolved in water or melted.
Why do covalent compounds not conduct electricity?
They don’t have free-moving charged particles (no ions).
Give an example of an ionic compound.
NaCl (Sodium chloride)
Give an example of a covalent compound.
H₂O (Water)
What kind of structure do ionic compounds form?
A giant lattice structure — repeating ions held together by strong electrostatic forces.
