INCREASING IONIC CHARACTER The IONIC CHARACTER is the difference of electro negativity that exists between 2 atoms in a compound. The ionic character is used to classify the type of bonding and can be thought of as a measurement of a “tug of war” on the electrons by the atoms. IONIC: IONIC CHARACTER IS 1.7 AND ABOVE INCREASING IONIC CHARACTER NON POLAR COVALENT: IONIC CHARACTER IS 0 TO ABOUT 0.4 POLAR COVALENT: IONIC CHARACTER IS 0.4 TO ABOUT 1.7

Calculating ionic character: Look up the electronegativities of the elements in TABLE S. Subtract the electronegativities of only two elements at a time to get the ionic character. The ionic character is never negative. If one compound has a high ionic character, it will have a relatively high degree of ionic behavior as compared to a compound with lower ionic character.. The parameters of ionic behavior include: High melting and boiling points The formation of hard crystal lattices. Conductive of electricity in the aqueous states, BUT not conductive in the solid state.

ASSESSING AN IONIC COMPOUND Example: For a compound formed when Ca reacts with F; please elucidate the following; -The Ionic Character to classify the compound -The formula (criss cross) -The Lewis dot structure of the reaction. The ionic character is (electro negativity of F) – (electro negativity of Ca) = Ionic character ( 4.0) – ( 1.0) = 3.0, it is VERY ionic. The Formula is Ca2+ F1- Ca2+ F1- Ca1F2 CaF2

Transfer Reaction: F F [ ] - Ca  F [ ] - F Ca2+