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Chemical Formulas

Picture Vocabulary

Chemistry

Chemical Formula

A shorthand notation that uses chemical symbols and


numbers as subscripts to represent the type of atoms
and number of atoms that are present in the smallest
unit of the substance.

Subscript

A number written below and to the right of a


chemical symbol; shows the number of a specific
type of atom present.

Ionic Bond

A form of chemical bonding that is


characterized by the electrostatic attraction
that binds oppositely-charged ions together.

Polyatomic Ion

A tightly-bound group of atoms that


behaves as a unit and carries a charge.

Oxidation State

A state in which an atom has complete or


partial loss of electrons or a gain of oxygen.

Covalent Bond

A form of chemical bonding that is characterized


by the sharing of pairs of electrons between atoms.

Binary Molecule

Molecular compounds formed by two non-metal


elements or by a metalloid and a non-metal
element.

Diatomic Molecules

Consist of seven specific non-metals that consist of two


atoms that are chemically and covalently bonded to each
other and are considered formula units of those elements.
They include H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, and I2.

Metallic Bond

The force of attraction that holds metals together


between free-floating valence electrons for
positively-charged metal ions.

Acids

A compound that produces hydrogen ions in


solution, donates hydrogen-ions, or is an
electron-pair acceptor.

Bases

A compound that produces hydroxide ions in


solution, accepts hydrogen-ions, or donates an
electron-pair.

Ionic Compound

A compound created when two or more oppositelycharged ions combine to form a formula unit, usually in
the form of a crystalline structure.

Formula Unit

The compound created from ionic bonds or


the empirical formula of molecular compounds.

Covalent Compound

A compound created when two (or more) atoms bond


covalently, sharing electrons, which
create a molecule.

Molecule

A neutral group of covalently bonded atoms.

Salt

An ionic compound that results from


the reaction of an acid and a base.

Chemical Bonding and Molecular


Structure

Picture Vocabulary

Chemistry

Electron Dot Formula

A notation that depicts valence electrons as dots around


the atomic symbol of the element, also known as a
Lewis Dot Formula.

Structural Formula

A chemical formula that shows the arrangement


of atoms in a molecule or a polyatomic ion.

Bonding Pairs

The valence electrons in an atom


that are bonded or shared with other atoms.

Malleability

A property that describes the ability of the material


to be rolled or hammered into thin sheets.

Ductility

A property that describes the ability of the material


to be pulled into thin wire without breaking.

Thermal Conductivity

A property that describes the ability


of heat to pass through a material.

Electrical Conductivity

A property that describes the ability of


an electric current to pass through a material.

Brittleness

The tendency of a mineral to


fracture or break when pressure is applied.

Molecular Geometry

The arrangement of electrons in relation


to the central atom of the molecule.

Central Atom

The atom around which other atoms


bond in a molecule.

Lone Pair of Electrons

Pairs of valence electrons that


are not bonded to other atoms.

Bond Angle

The angle that is formed between


adjacent bonds on the same atom.

Linear

A term used to describe the geometric structure


of a molecule in which the atoms are arranged in
a straight line. This structure includes 2 electron pairs
and 2 bonded atoms with a bond angle of 180 degrees.

Bent

A term used to describe the geometric structure of a


molecule in which the atoms are arranged in a bent
formation. This structure includes 4 electron pairs and
2 bonded atoms with a bond angle of 104.5 degrees.

Trigonal Planar

A term used to describe the geometric structure of


a molecule in which the atoms are arranged in
a somewhat triangular single plane. This structure
includes 3 electron pairs and either 2 or 3 bonded atoms
with a bond angle of 120 degrees.

Trigonal Pyramidal

A term used to describe the geometric structure of


a molecule in which the atoms are shaped like a
3-dimensional pyramid. This structure includes
4 electron pairs and 3 bonded atoms with a bond angle of
107.5 degrees.

Tetrahedral

A term used to describe the geometric structure of a


molecule in which the atoms are arranged with equal
bond angles between the electron bonds and all four
bonding pairs are used on the central atom. This
structure includes 4 electron pairs and 4 bonded atoms
with a bond angle of 109.5 degrees.

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