Compounds

Basics of Compounds

• Compounds are molecules containing at least two different atoms of an element.
• An example of this would be $H_2$ (two Hydrogen atoms).

Ionic Compounds

• Ionic compounds are formed by two atoms of an element exchanging electrons to receive a full valence shell. (See more about valence electrons.)
• It is also known as the “electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions.” (See more about ions.)

Ionic Bonding

Valencies help to predict the formulae of ionic compounds using the ‘swap and drop’ method.

• For example, $[Mg{]}^{2+}+[O{]}^{2-}\to MgO$. $Mg$ and $O$ have a 1:1 ratio and thus we drop the ionic number to the amount of atoms ($M{g}_2+O_2$) and drop the amount ($Mg+O\to MgO$).