What are some examples of ionic compounds?

Lets take the ionic formula for Calcium Chloride, ##CaCl_2##.

Calcium is an Alkaline Earth Metal in the second column of . This means that calcium has 2 it readily gives away in order to seek the stability of the octet. This makes calcium a ##Ca^(+2)## cation.

Chlorine is a Halogen in the 17th column or ##p^5## group. Chlorine has 7 . It needs one electron to make it stable at 8 electrons in its valence shells. This makes chlorine a ##Cl^(−1 )## anion.

Ionic bonds form when the charges between the metal cation and non-metal anion are equal and opposite. This means that two ##Cl^(−1)## anions will balance with one ##Ca^(+2)## cation.

This makes the formula for calcium chloride ##CaCl_2##.

For the example Aluminum Oxide ##Al_2O_3##

Aluminum has an oxidation state of +3 or ##Al^(+3)## Oxygen has an oxidation state of -2 or ##O^(-2)##

The common multiple of 2 and 3 is 6.

We will need 2 aluminum atoms to get a +6 charge and 3 oxygen atoms to get a -6 charge. When the charges are equal and opposite the atoms will bond as ##Al_2O_3##.

I hope this is helpful. SMARTERTEACHER