Reading Focus Questions

September 9

Section 2.7

1.    What is the defining characteristic of a covalent bond?  What is the defining feature of an ionic bond?

2.    What is the fundamental difference between a chemical formula and a structural formula?

3.   Ammonium chloride is an ionic compound.  The ammonium ion is a polyatomic ion.  What is the nature of the bond between ammonium and chloride?  What is the nature of the bond between nitrogen and hydrogen in the ammonium ion?

Section 2.9

4.    Consider the ions listed in table 2.3.  Note their charge and their position on the periodic table.  Describe the pattern that you see.

5.    Do all transition metal ions require roman numerals when naming their ionic compounds?  Identify a few that do not.  Note that mercury (I) must exist as a two mercury atoms, bound together, the combination having a +2 charge, i.e., Hg₂⁺²

6.    Your textbook states that the names of polyatomic ions must be memorized.  Study the names of polyatomic ions in Table 2.5.  There exists a pattern that will reduce the amount of memorization required.  What is the pattern? 

7.    Compounds that are formed by the bonding of two nonmetals (think upper right hand corner of periodic table) have a different naming system.  They never use roman numerals, but they do use Greek prefixes!  You should know the four steps to naming these compounds.

8.    Learn the naming patterns for acids.

9.    The only way to learn nomenclature is to practice, practice, practice.  Do as many of the exercises as you have to in order to learn the patterns.