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Type 1 Binary Ionic Compounds

Jul 12, 2025

Overview

This lecture covers Type 1 Binary Ionic Compounds: what they are, how to name them, and how to write their chemical formulas.

What Are Type 1 Binary Ionic Compounds?

  • A compound is two or more different elements chemically bonded together.
  • "Binary" means the compound contains exactly two different elements.
  • "Ionic" refers to a metal bonded to a non-metal.
  • "Type 1" means the metal comes from Group 1 or 2 or is silver, zinc, or aluminum.
  • Examples: lithium chloride (LiCl), calcium nitride (Ca3N2).

Naming Type 1 Binary Ionic Compounds

  • Name the metal first, followed by the non-metal with an "-ide" ending.
  • Do not include the charges or the number of atoms in the name.
  • Examples:
    • BeF2 → beryllium fluoride
    • NaCl → sodium chloride
    • ZnBr2 → zinc bromide
    • Li2O → lithium oxide
    • MgS → magnesium sulfide
    • Ca3P2 → calcium phosphide

Writing Chemical Formulas from Names

  • Write the symbol for the metal and the non-metal.
  • Assign their standard ionic charges from the periodic table (Group 1: +1, Group 2: +2, Group 16: -2, Group 17: -1).
  • Add subscripts so the total positive and negative charges add up to zero.
  • Examples:
    • Sodium bromide: Na+ and Br– → NaBr
    • Rubidium sulfide: Rb+ and S2– → Rb2S
    • Magnesium nitride: Mg2+ and N3– → Mg3N2
    • Silver phosphide: Ag+ and P3– → Ag3P

Additional Naming and Formula Examples

  • CaF2: calcium fluoride (Ca2+ and F– → CaF2)
  • Be3P2: beryllium phosphide (Be2+ and P3– → Be3P2)
  • CsF: cesium fluoride
  • AlBr3: aluminum bromide

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Type 1 Binary Ionic Compound — a compound of a Group 1/2/Ag/Zn/Al metal and a non-metal, with only two elements.
  • Ionic Bond — a chemical bond formed by the transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal.
  • Subscript — a small number in a formula indicating the quantity of atoms.
  • -ide Suffix — ending for the non-metal name in ionic compounds.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Complete practice problems: Write formulas for sodium phosphide, name MgO, write formula for strontium fluoride.
  • Review periodic table groups and typical ion charges for type 1 metals and non-metals.