Ions that form from one atom on the Periodic Table are call monatomic ions. However not all ionic bonds are formed with monatomic ions, polyatomic ions can form ionic bonds as well. The prefix poly- means many and atomic refers to atoms, so a polyatomic ion is an ion that contains more than one atom. This differentiates polyatomic ions from monatomic ions, which contain only one atom. Examples of monatomic ions include Na+, Fe3+, Cl-, and many, many others. We can think about polyatomic ions by comparing them to monatomic ions. A monatomic ion is an atom that has been ionized by gaining or losing electrons. The ion has a net charge because the total number of electrons is not balanced by the total number of protons in the nucleus. Thus, compared to the neutral atom, we have extra electrons—in the case of a negatively charged anion—or not enough electrons—in the case of a positively charged cation. For example, a neutral chlorine atom has an atomic number of 17, which means it has 17 protons and 17 electrons. The neutral atom will sometimes gain an extra electron to become the chloride anion, Cl-:    Cl  + e-  à  Cl-   After gaining an electron, the chloride anion has 17 protons and 18 electrons. Since there is one extra electron compared to the number of protons, the ion has a net charge of 1-.   Similarly, we can think of a polyatomic ion as a molecule that has been ionized by gaining or losing electrons. In a polyatomic ion, the group of covalently bonded atoms carries a net charge because the total number of electrons in the molecule is not equal to the total number of protons in the molecule. For example, let's consider the polyatomic ion OH-, which is known as hydroxide. It contains one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom. We see that hydroxide has a 1- charge, which means the ion has one more electron than there are protons in the nuclei of a hydrogen atom plus an oxygen atom. Polyatomic ions are everywhere! Bicarbonate ions, HCO3-, help maintain the pH level of our blood, while phosphates, PO43- are extremely important in various metabolic processes. Being familiar with the names, charges, and formulas of the most common polyatomic ions will be helpful for recognizing ionic compounds and predicting their reactivity. The following table lists some of the common polyatomic ions.   What is an ion? Explain the difference between a monatomic and polyatomic ion. Support your answer with evidence from the text. For example,-In the text, it states, "______________."

Chemistry: An Atoms First Approach
2nd Edition
ISBN:9781305079243
Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl
Publisher:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl
Chapter3: Bonding: General Concepts
Section: Chapter Questions
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Ions that form from one atom on the Periodic Table are call monatomic ions. However not all ionic bonds are formed with monatomic ions, polyatomic ions can form ionic bonds as well. The prefix poly- means many and atomic refers to atoms, so a polyatomic ion is an ion that contains more than one atom. This differentiates polyatomic ions from monatomic ions, which contain only one atom. Examples of monatomic ions include Na+, Fe3+, Cl-, and many, many others. We can think about polyatomic ions by comparing them to monatomic ions. A monatomic ion is an atom that has been ionized by gaining or losing electrons. The ion has a net charge because the total number of electrons is not balanced by the total number of protons in the nucleus. Thus, compared to the neutral atom, we have extra electrons—in the case of a negatively charged anion—or not enough electrons—in the case of a positively charged cation. For example, a neutral chlorine atom has an atomic number of 17, which means it has 17 protons and 17 electrons. The neutral atom will sometimes gain an extra electron to become the chloride anion, Cl-:    Cl  + e-  à  Cl-

 

After gaining an electron, the chloride anion has 17 protons and 18 electrons. Since there is one extra electron compared to the number of protons, the ion has a net charge of 1-.

 

Similarly, we can think of a polyatomic ion as a molecule that has been ionized by gaining or losing electrons. In a polyatomic ion, the group of covalently bonded atoms carries a net charge because the total number of electrons in the molecule is not equal to the total number of protons in the molecule.

For example, let's consider the polyatomic ion OH-, which is known as hydroxide. It contains one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom. We see that hydroxide has a 1- charge, which means the ion has one more electron than there are protons in the nuclei of a hydrogen atom plus an oxygen atom.

Polyatomic ions are everywhere! Bicarbonate ions, HCO3-, help maintain the pH level of our blood, while phosphates, PO43- are extremely important in various metabolic processes. Being familiar with the names, charges, and formulas of the most common polyatomic ions will be helpful for recognizing ionic compounds and predicting their reactivity. The following table lists some of the common polyatomic ions.

 

What is an ion? Explain the difference between a monatomic and polyatomic ion. Support your answer with evidence from the text. For example,-In the text, it states, "______________."

 

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