Inorganic chemistryLesson 2 of 5 in the course Representative Metals, Metalloids, and Nonmetals

Nonmetal Bonding, Redox Chemistry, Acids, and Elemental Allotropes

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

Save course
Lesson progress
0 / 5

Your progress is kept in this browser only.Sign up to save it

Summary

Electronegativity generally increases from left to right across a period and decreases down a group. Nonmetals therefore tend to attract shared or transferred electrons more strongly than metals do.

When a metal reacts with a nonmetal, the electronegativity difference is often large. Metals tend to lose electrons and form cations, while nonmetals gain electrons and form anions. The resulting ionic compounds are commonly solids under normal conditions. Examples of monatomic nonmetal anions include chloride, Cl−\mathrm{Cl^-}; nitride, N3−\mathrm{N^{3-}}; and selenide, Se2−\mathrm{Se^{2-}}.

All flashcards

Oxidation state
A bookkeeping value assigned to an atom in a compound or ion.
Disproportionation
A reaction in which the same element is both oxidized and reduced.
Acid anhydride
An oxide that reacts with water to form an acid without changing the central element's oxidation state.
Allotrope
A different structural form of the same element.
Graphene
A single atom-thick layer of graphite with carbon atoms arranged in six-membered rings.

Quiz questions

  1. When a metal reacts with a nonmetal to form an ionic compound, what typically happens to their electrons?Answer: The metal loses electrons, and the nonmetal gains them.
  2. In the reaction Cl2+2I−→I2+2Cl−\mathrm{Cl_2 + 2I^- \rightarrow I_2 + 2Cl^-}, which species is oxidized?Answer: Iodide ions, which form iodine.
  3. Why can the first element in many nonmetal groups differ in its bonding from heavier group members?Answer: It has only one ss and three pp valence orbitals available for bonding.
  4. How does the acid strength of oxyacids generally change as the central atom's electronegativity increases?Answer: It generally increases.
  5. What feature allows graphite to conduct electricity?Answer: Delocalized electrons can move within its carbon layers.

Based on Chemistry 2e by Paul Flowers, Klaus Theopold, Richard Langley, William R. Robinson, PhD (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

More in Inorganic chemistry

All Inorganic chemistry lessons
Inorganic chemistryLigand Field Theory: σ/π Bonding, Orbital Splitting, and Spin States5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Inorganic chemistryOxygen, Oxides, Hydroxides, and Inorganic Oxyacids5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Inorganic chemistryRepresentative Metals: Natural Sources, Electrolysis, and Chemical Reduction5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Inorganic chemistryCoordination Complexes: Bonding, Naming, Geometry, Isomerism, and Uses5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Inorganic chemistryHalogens: Occurrence, Properties, Compounds, Preparation, and Uses5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Inorganic chemistryNoble-Gas Sources, Physical Properties, Uses, and Xenon Compounds5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →