Chemical bond:
The force that holds two atoms together; may form by the attraction of a positive ion for a negative ion or by the attraction of a positive nucleus for negative electrons.
Cation:
A positively charged ion.
Anion:
A negatively charged ion.
Ionic Bond:
The electrostatic force that holds oppositely charged particles together in an ionic compound.
Electrolyte:
An ionic compound whose aqueous solution conducts an electric current.
Lattice Energy:
The energy required to separate one mole of the ions of an ionic compound, which is directly related to the size of the ions bond and is also affected by the charge of ions.
Formula Unit:
The simplest ration of ions represented in an ionic compound.
Monatomic Ion:
An ion formed from only one atom.
Oxidation Number:
The positive or negative charge of a monatomic ion.
Polyatomic Ion:
An ion made up of two or more atoms bonded together that acts as a single unit with a net charge.
Oxyanion:
A polyatomic ion composed of an element, usually a nonmetal, bonded to one or more oxygen atoms.
Electron Sea Model:
Proposes that all metal atoms in a metallic solid contribute their valence electrons to form a "sea" of electrons and can explain properties of metallic solids such as malleability, conduction, and ductility.
Delocalized Electron
The electrons involved in metallic bonding that are free to move easily from one atom to the next throughout the metal are not attached to a particular atom.
Metallic Bond:
The attraction of a metallic cation for delocalized electrons.
Alloy:
A mixture of elements that has metallic properties; most commonly forms when the elements are either similar in size(substitutional alloy) or the atoms of one element are much smaller the atoms of the other (interstitial alloy.)