Naming Covalent Compounds (and comparing them to ionic compounds)

Properties of Covalent compounds Covalent compounds are typically formed from nonmetals Molecules – this is the single unit of compounds characterized by covalent bonding Exist as discrete molecules in the solid, liquid, and gas states. They carry no charges.

Naming Covalent Compounds: 1) List the least electronegative first. First atom only keeps it’s name and only uses a prefix if there is more than one 2) List the most electronegative second. Second atom ends with “ide” and always uses a prefix to tell how many atoms of each there are: mono = 1 atomhexa = 6 atoms di = 2atomshepta = 7 atoms tri = 3atomsocto = 8 atoms tetra = 4 atomsnono = 9 atoms penta= 5 atomsdeca = 10 atoms

Naming Covalent Compounds: 4) There are no charges in covalent compounds so there is no crisscrossing or uncrossing or roman numerals.

Properties of Ionic compounds – Ionic compounds are usually solids at room Temperature Melting and Boiling Points – Ionic compounds have much higher melting points and boiling points than covalent compounds –– Ionic compounds typically melt at several hundred degrees Celsius

Properties of Ionic compounds They exist in a crystal state so we refer to the smallest ratio of ions in the crystal as their formula unit When dissolved in water, ionic compounds break into ions (charged particles) and can conduct electricity through the solution.