Topic 2 Ionic compounds and analysis

IONIC BONDS
An ion is an atom or groups of atoms with a positive or negative charge
Ionic bonds form between positively and negatively charged ions (i.e between
cations and anions see below)
Atoms are most stable with full outer shells
However, atoms of most elements have incomplete (i.e not full) outer shellsthey
readily lose or gain electrons during chemical reactions to obtain full outer shells
When electrons are gained or lost, the atoms become ions
Cations:
Metal atoms readily lose their outermost electrons to form positively charged ions
called cations
For elements in groups 1 and 2, the number of outer electrons lost is the same as
their group number:
E.g sodium is in group 1has 1 electron in its outer shell (2.8.1). It can
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lose one electron to become a Na+ cation with a full outer shell (2.8)
E.g2 magnesium is in group 2has 2 electrons in its outer shell (2.8.2). It
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can lose two electrons to become a Mg2+ cation with a full outer shell (2.8)
Anions:
Non-metal atoms can gain electrons to form negatively charged ions called anions
For elements in groups 6 and 7, the number of electrons they gain is 8 minus their
group number:
E.g oxygen is in group 6has 6 electrons in its outer shell (2.8.6). It can
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gain two electrons to become an O2- anion with a full outer shell (2.8.8)
E.g2 chlorine is in group 7has 7 electrons in its outer shell (2.8.7). It can
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gain one electron to become a Cl- anion with a full outer shell (2.8.8)
Note: when non-metal atoms form ions, their name changes to ide (e.g chlorine
atoms are called chloride ionsoxygen atoms are called oxide ions)
IONIC COMPOUNDS
Ionic compounds form when a metal reacts with a non-metal:
Electrons lost by the metal are transferred to the non-metal
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both positive and negative ions that form end up with stable, full outer
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shells
Oppositely charged ions attract each other stronglyforming an ionic
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compound held together by ionic bonds
E.g when sodium and chlorine react:
Electrons are transferred from sodium atoms to chlorine atoms
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This forms Na+ and Cl- ions (both have a stable, full outer shell)
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These oppositely charged ions attract each other stronglyforming the
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ionic compound NaCl (table salt)
Working out a formula:
Ionic compounds are electrically neutral because they contain equal numbers of
positive and negative charges
If you know the charges of the cations and anions you can work out the formula of
the ionic compound
E.g for sodium chloride, one Na+ is needed for every Cl- ionformula is NaCl

E.g2 the ionic compound aluminium oxide:

Aluminium oxide contains Al3+ cations and O2- anions
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For charges to be equal you must have:
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Two Al3+ cations ( + 6 charge)
Three O2- anions ( - 6 charge)
formula of aluminium oxide is Al2O3 (neutral charge)
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Compound ions:
Compound ions contain more than one element
E.g the nitrate ion NO3- contains one nitrogen atom joined to three oxygen atoms
plus an extra electron (negative charge)
If two or more compound ions of the same type are needed in a formula, the ion
must be written inside brackets (with the number on the outside)
E.g the ionic compound magnesium nitrate:
Magnesium nitrate contains Mg2+ and NO3- ions
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For charges to be equal you need two NO3- ions for every Mg2+ ion
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formula of magnesium nitrate is Mg(NO3)2
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Names of ionic compounds:
Note:
Ionic compounds usually end in ide (e.g NaCl - sodium chloride)
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However, compounds that contain oxygen atoms end in ate (e.g
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Mg(NO3)2 - magnesium nitrate)
The structure of ionic compounds:
The ions in an ionic compound are packed tightly together and arranged in a
regular way, called a lattice structure
The lattice structure is held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction (i.e
by ionic bonds) between oppositely charged ions
PROPERTIES OF IONIC COMPOUNDS
Conducting electricity:
Ionic compounds dont conduct electricity when solid
However, they do conduct electricity:
when molten (i.e when theyre heated until they turn into liquid)
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when in aqueous solution (i.e dissolved in water) this is why sea water
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(NaCl in aqueous solution) conducts electricity
Explanation:
Two conditions must be met for a substance to conduct electricity
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Must contain charged particles
Charged particles must be free to move
Ionic compounds contain charged particles (ions) but these are only free to
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move when molten or in aqueous solution
In the solid form, ions cant move (theyre strongly held together in a
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lattice structure by ionic bonds)cant conduct electricity
Melting points and boiling points:
The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes from a
solid to a liquid
The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes from a
liquid to a gas (at its fastest possible rate)

Ionic bonds holding ionic compounds together in a lattice are very strong:
This means lots of (heat) energy is needed to break the ionic bonds
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ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points
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ionic compounds are usually solids at room temperature
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SOLUBILITY
If a substance dissolves well in a particular liquid, it is said to be soluble
If a substance doesnt dissolve at all in a particular liquid, it is said to be
insoluble
A salt (not NaCl which is table salt) is a substance that can be made by
reacting an acid and an alkali
Solubility rules for salts in water:
Soluble in water
Insoluble in water
All common sodium, potassium and ammonium salts
All nitrates
Most chlorides
Silver/lead chlorides
Most sulfates
lead/barium/calcium sulfates
sodium/potassium/ammonium carbonates
Most carbonates
sodium/potassium/ammonium hydroxides
Most hydroxides
Precipitation reactions:
A reaction in which at least one insoluble solid (called the precipitate) is
produced from two soluble substances is called a precipitation reaction:
E.g lead nitrate + potassium iodidelead iodide + potassium nitrate
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Balanced equation: Pb(NO3)2 (aq) + 2KI (aq) PbI2 (s) + 2KNO3 (aq)
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State symbols show that all substances are dissolved in water (aq o
aqueous) except for lead iodide, which is insoluble (so its shown as a solid
s)forms a precipitate
In precipitation reactions, the precipitate can be separated from the unreacted ions
by filtration. It is washed on filter paper and then dried in a warm oven
PRECIPITATES
Using the solubility rules, its possible to work out which precipitate will form
when two solutions are mixed together
E.g what precipitate is formed when copper chloride and potassium hydroxide are
mixed together?
When salts mix, the ions swap so that: copper chloride + potassium
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hydroxide copper hydroxide + potassium chloride
All potassium salts are soluble, whereas most copper salts are insoluble
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copper hydroxide forms a precipitate (a solid)
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Balanced equation: CuCl2 (aq) + 2KOH (aq) Cu(OH)2 (s) + 2KCl (aq)
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E.g2 what would happen if copper chloride and potassium hydroxide were mixed
together?
Sodium chloride + potassium carbonatesodium carbonate + potassium
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chloride
All sodium and potassium salts are solubleno precipitate is formed (both
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products of the reaction are soluble)this is not a precipitation reaction
Barium meals:
In the diagnosis of intestinal problems, patients are made to swallow a drink called a barium meal - containing barium sulfate:

As the barium sulfate passes through the patients digestive system, x-ray
photos are taken
Barium (like bone) absorbs x-raysshows up as white on the photosany
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problems with the patients digestive system can be seen
Most barium salts are toxic, however:
barium sulphate is insolublecant enter the patients blood
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This makes it safe to swallow
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ION TESTS
Flame tests:
Different metal ions produce different coloured flames when held over a Bunsen
burner flame:
Sodium (Na+) yellow
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Potassium (K+) lilac
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Calcium (Ca2+) red
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Copper (II) (Cu2+) green/blue
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Note: the most intense colours are obtained from solids, but flame tests also work
when solids are dissolved in water (as aqueous solutions)
Flame tests led to the discovery of new elements:
Chemists in the 1800s did flame tests of different samples of mineral water
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and then used a prism to separate the colours of light given off - method is
called spectroscopy
They saw a grey-blue colour that hadnt been seen before and realised they
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had discovered a new element later called it caesium
A year later, using the same method, rubidium was discovered (gave off a
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dark red colour in a Bunsen flame)
Precipitation tests:
Some anions can be identified by precipitation tests:
Chloride ions (Cl-):
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Add dilute nitric acid and silver nitrate to the solution
If the sample contains chloride ions, a white precipitate of silver
chloride will form
Sulfate ions (SO42-):
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Add dilute hydrochloric acid and barium chloride to the solution
If solution contains sulfate ions, a white precipitate of barium
sulfate will form
Test for carbonate ions:
Add a dilute acid to the solution
If solution contains carbonate ions (CO3-), carbon dioxide gas will be given off,
which when bubbled through limewater will turn the limewater milky
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