Vocabulary

 Chemical Bond
– attractive force between atoms or ions that
binds them together as a unit
– bonds form in order to…
 increase stability

Courtesy Christy Johannesson www.nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/chem

 Chemical Bonding

atoms give up or gain electrons and are attracted

Na loses an e– Cl gains an e–
Na  Na1+ + e– Cl + e–  Cl1–
(Metal) (Non-Metal)

ionic compounds = salts Na1+ + Cl1–  NaCl

K1+ + NO31–  KNO3

where NO31– is a polyatomic ion: a charged group of atoms

that stay together
 Ionic Bonding
NaCl

n=3
-
n=2 n=3
-
- - - - -
-
-
-
- - - - -
-
+ -

- - -
- - -
-
- - - - - -
- -

Na Cl Na+ Cl-
[Ne]3s1 [Ne]3s23p5 [Ne] [Ne]3s23p6

Transfer of electrons to achieve a stable octet (8 electrons in valence shell).

Properties of Ionic Compounds

VERY HARD
each ion is bonded to several oppositely-
charged ions

HIGH MELTING POINTS

many bonds must be broken

BRITTLE
with sufficient force, like atoms are brought
next to each other and repel
Writing Chemical
Formulas
 The Swap n Drop Method
 The Swap n Drop method is an easy way to determine
the formula of any ionic compound.
 The ionic compound can be the simple (binary) ionic
compound with just two elements, or one that has a
polyatomic ion as part of it.
 You can get the oxidation values directly off of the
periodic table for most elements or they are part of the
“Polyatomic Cheat Sheet”.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Calcium and Nitrogen
1. Write the chemical 1. Ca N
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Ca2+ N3-
number over the
symbols. 3. Ca3N2
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a
2 & 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Be Br
1. Write the chemical 1. Be Br
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Be2+ Br1-
number over the
symbols. 3. BeBr2
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Lithium Oxide:
1. Write the chemical 1. Li O
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Li1+ O2-
number over the
symbols. 3. Li2O
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Magnesium Nitride:
1. Write the chemical 1. Mg N
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Mg2+ N3-
number over the
symbols. 3. Mg3N2
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Lithium Chloride:
1. Write the chemical 1. Li Cl
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Li1+ Cl1-
number over the
symbols. 3. LiCl
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
Formulas With Transition Metals
 The Swap n Drop method is also used when dealing with
metals that have more than one oxidation number.
(Copper, Iron, Lead, or Tin)
 The oxidation number for these metals can be found in
the name of the compound that contains them.
 Examples:
– Iron (II) oxide – the Iron (Fe) used here has an oxidation
number of 2
– Lead (IV) sulfide – the Lead (Pb) used here has a oxidation
number of 4.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Iron (III) Oxide:
1. Write the chemical 1. Fe O
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Fe3+ O2-
number over the
symbols. 3. Fe2O3
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Lead (II) Chloride:
1. Write the chemical 1. Pb Cl
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Pb2+ Cl1-
number over the
symbols. 3. PbCl2
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Copper (I) Phosphide:
1. Write the chemical 1. Cu P
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Cu1+ P3-
number over the
symbols. 3. Cu3P
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Tin (II) Sulfide:
1. Write the chemical 1. Sn S
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Sn2+ S2-
number over the
symbols. 3. Sn2S2
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary- 4. SnS
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Lead(IV) Oxide:
1. Write the chemical 1. Pb O
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Pb4+ O2-
number over the
symbols. 3. Pb2O4
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary- 4. PbO2
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Polyatomic Ions
 Polyatomic ions are clusters of atoms that
stay together as one unit and carry an
overall charge. Most polyatomic ions are
negatively charged.
.
 Polyatomic Ionic Compounds
Parenthesis
 You need more than one polyatomic ion in your formula…This means
that you will have to use brackets. Use parenthesis whenever you need
more than one polyatomic ion in the formula.
 Example: Iron (III) nitrate…
– Start with symbols and combining capacities…

Fe3 NO31
– After the Swap n Drop, you may get one of two possibilities…

 FeNO33 OR Fe (NO3)3
 The second option is right because it says you need two nitrate clusters
to go with every iron atom. The first option, which did not use reads as
one iron atom and thirty-three oxygen atoms.
 Fe(NO3)3 is the correct formula! Use the parenthesis!
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Sodium Nitrate:
1. Write the chemical 1. Na NO3
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Na1+ (NO3)1-
number over the
symbols. 3. Na(NO3)
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Calcium Chlorate
1. Write the chemical 1. Ca ClO3
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Ca2+ (ClO3)1-
number over the
symbols. 3. Ca(ClO3)2
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Lithium Phosphate:
1. Write the chemical 1. Li PO4
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Li1+ (PO4)3-
number over the
symbols. 3. Li3(PO4)
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Aluminum Sulfate:
1. Write the chemical 1. Al SO4
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Al3+ (SO4)2-
number over the
symbols. 3. Al2(SO4)3
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Tin (IV) Carbonate:
1. Write the chemical 1. Sn CO3
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Sn4+ (CO3)2-
number over the
symbols. 3. Sn2(CO3)4
3. Swap it and Drop it. Reduce!

4. Reduce – if necessary- 4. Sn(CO3)2

the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Ammonium Phosphate:
1. Write the chemical 1. NH4 PO4
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. ( NH4)1+ ( PO4)3-
number over the
symbols. 3. (NH4)3 ( PO4)
3. Swap it and Drop it.
4. Reduce – if necessary-
the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.
 Swap it and Drop it
Steps (in order) Magnesium Carbonate:
1. Write the chemical 1. Mg CO3
symbols.
2. Write the oxidation 2. Mg2+ (CO3)2-
number over the
symbols. 3. Mg2(CO3)2
3. Swap it and Drop it. Reduce!

4. Reduce – if necessary- 4. Mg(CO3)

the same numbers or a 2
& 4 together.