electrically neutral

Examples of electrically neutral in the following topics:

• Formulas of Ionic Compounds

  • An ionic formula must satisfy the octet rule for the constituent atoms and electric neutrality for the whole compound.
  • Second, the cations and anions are combined in a way that produces a electrically neutral compound.
  • Its ionic formula is written as CaCl2, the neutral combination of these ions.
  • To create a neutral compound, CaCl2, two 1- chloride ions were needed to balance out the 2+ charge from calcium.

• Formulas of Ionic Compounds

  • Ionic formulas must satisfy the noble gas configurations for the constituent ions and the product compound must be electrically neutral.
  • The ionic composition is then defined by the requirement that the resulting compound be electrically neutral overall.
  • Therefore, for the resulting compound to be neutral, two bromine anions must combine with one magnesium cation to form magnesium bromide (MgBr2).

• Molecules

  • Molecules are electrically neutral compounds made of multiple atoms bound together by chemical bonds.
  • Molecules are neutral and carry no charge; this property distinguishes them from polyatomic ions, such as nitrate (NO3-).

• Salts that Produce Basic Solutions

  • In acid-base chemistry, a salt is defined as the ionic compound that results from a neutralization reaction between an acid and a base.
  • As such, salts are composed of cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negative ions), and in their unsolvated, solid forms, they are electrically neutral (without a net charge).

• Polyatomic Molecules

  • Polyatomic molecules are electrically neutral groups of three or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.
  • Molecules are distinguished from ions by their lack of electrical charge.

• Electrolytic Properties

  • When electrodes are placed in an electrolyte solution and a voltage is applied, the electrolyte will conduct electricity.
  • When electrodes are placed in an electrolyte solution and a voltage is applied, the electrolyte will conduct electricity.
  • Here, the electrode reactions convert chemical energy to electrical energy.
  • Oxidation of ions or neutral molecules occurs at the anode, and the reduction of ions or neutral molecules occurs at the cathode.
  • Neutral molecules can also react at either electrode.

• Ions

  • If an atom has the same number of protons and electrons, it is electronically neutral.
  • However, if the total number of electrons does not equal the number of protons, the atom has a net electrical charge.
  • The positive electric charge of a proton is equal in magnitude to the negative charge of an electron; therefore, the net electric charge of an ion is equal to its number of protons minus its number of electrons.
  • They are repelled by like electric charges and are attracted to opposite charges.
  • Ions can be formed by ionization, which is the process of a neutral atom losing or gaining electrons.

• Predicting the Products of Electrolysis

  • It uses a direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction.
  • Two electrodes: an electrical conductor that provides the physical interface between the electrical circuit providing the energy and the electrolyte.
  • Oxidation of ions or neutral molecules occurs at the anode, and reduction of ions or neutral molecules occurs at the cathode.
  • Neutral molecules can also react at either electrode.
  • We just saw electric current used to split CuSO4 into its component ions.

• Comparison between Covalent and Ionic Compounds

  • Although solid ionic compounds do not conduct electricity because there are no free mobile ions or electrons, ionic compounds dissolved in water make an electrically conductive solution.
  • In contrast, covalent compounds do not exhibit any electrical conductivity, either in pure form or when dissolved in water.
  • The transfer of an electron from a neutral sodium atom to a neutral fluorine atom creates two oppositely charge ions: Na+ and F-.

• The Mass Spectrometer

  • In order to measure the characteristics of individual molecules, a mass spectrometer converts them to ions so that they can be moved about and manipulated by external electric and magnetic fields.
  • Some of these ions fragment into smaller cations and neutral fragments.
  • Residual energy from the collision may cause the molecular ion to fragment into neutral pieces (colored green) and smaller fragment ions (colored pink and orange).
  • The molecular ion is a radical cation, but the fragment ions may either be radical cations (pink) or carbocations (orange), depending on the nature of the neutral fragment.