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When atoms have fewer than four valence electrons, they can transfer to other atoms to
become more stable. If atoms have more than four, they try to get electrons to become
more stable also. An ion is an atom or group that has become electrically charged. When
an atom loses an electron, it loses the negative charge and becomes a positive ion when an
atom gains an electron, it gains a negative charge and becomes and becomes a negative
ion.
Forming an Ionic Bond
The transfer of one valence electron becomes a positive ion. The one receiving is a
negative. An ionic bond is the attraction between two oppositely charged ions. Every
sodium ion is balanced by a chloride ion, as a 1:1 ratio. Compounds are neutral. It
balances out the charge.
Polyatomic Ions
Ions made of more than one atom are polyatomic ions. They all act as one. Each has an
overall positive or negative charge. When one ion combines with another ion, an ionic
compound forms. CO32- has one carbon atom and three oxygen atoms that have a charge of
2-.
Naming Ionic Compounds
For an ionic compound, the name of the positive ion comes first, followed by the negative
(this name is changed to a suffix of ide, only if the negative the ion is an element.
However, if the negative ion is polyatomic, its name is unchanged. Sodium carbonate, not
sodium carbonide is washing soda (Na2CO3).