Download in-class assignment - hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca

Ionic Compounds in our Daily Lives
Name: ____________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________
Sodium chloride is a typical binary ionic compound.
"Binary" means there are two elements bonded
together. "Ionic" means each are ions (Na+ and Cl-).
Since opposite charges attract, this causes them to
bond (combine) to make a compound. When
talking to patients with high blood pressure,
medical staff will say, "Reduce your intake of salt."
This use of "salt" means sodium chloride (NaCl).
Salt is a general term for any metal combined with
any non-metal. However, in everyday language,
this word usually means sodium chloride.
Saline is a term the medical profession uses for a
sodium chloride solution. "Normal Saline" means a
sodium chloride solution that is 0.9% w/v
[weight/volume]. 0.9% w/v means 0.9 grams per
100 mL of solution. You can make it by putting 9
grams of sodium chloride in water and then bring
up the volume to 1 liter.
"Normal" means that the salt level is close to the
"salt" or "ion" levels in blood. That's why normal
saline is given to dehydrated patients who can't
take liquids orally. It is administered by IV
(intravenous) through injection or use of a IV bag.
Potassium is needed for the proper functioning of
muscles and nerves. If the body doesn't have
enough potassium, the condition is called
"hypokalemia". "Hypo" means under. "Kal" is from
"Kalium" the Latin name for potassium (hence K as
symbol). "emia" means blood. So hypokalemia
means low levels of potassium in the blood.
Potassium chloride is another binary ionic
compound. Notice binary compounds end with
"ide". The positive ion (potassium, K+) is always
written first.
Titanium (IV) oxide is another binary ionic
compound. It's used as a sunblock for people
sensitive to the sun's UV light or are in high risk
environments (mountains, snow, water)
Notice unlike sodium or potassium chloride, this
name uses a Roman numeral between metal and
non-metal. Sodium and potassium ions are always
a plus one charge, so there's no need to indicate
charge. Titanium however, can have a plus 2, plus
3, or a plus 4 charge, so there needs to be a way to
indicate which one. The Roman numeral IV means
this titanium has a plus 4 charge. To balance that
charge, you would need two oxygen ions (oxide
ions) because each oxygen ion is a negative 2
charge. So the formula is TiO2. This product names
this compound as titanium dioxide, which is logical
since there are two oxygen atoms; however, the
organization that has the task to standardize
chemical names says using the Roman Numerals
will reduce misunderstandings. So the proper
name is titanium (IV) oxide, but you are likely to
see and hear it as titanium dioxide.
So far the ions I've shown were of single atoms, for example, Na+, K+, Ti4+, Cl-, and O2-. However,
a large number of compounds have ions that are made from two or more elements. They call
them polyatomic ions. "Poly" meaning "many" and "atomic" referring to atoms.
Sulfate: Iron supplements often contain iron (II)
sulfate. Sulfate is a negative ion and its formula is
SO42-. It is a polyatomic ion because it has two
elements; sulfur and oxygen. The sulfur and oxygen
are locked together as a group and their overall
charge is negative two. Iron can have a plus 2 (II) or
a plus 3 (III) charge, which is why the (II) is
necessary. An older name for iron that had a plus 2
charge is "Ferrous". So some iron supplements may
call this Ferrous sulfate rather than iron (II) sulfate.
In the medical profession calcium sulfate and
barium sulfate are often encountered.
Casts are made from calcium sulfate hemihydrate.
(CaSO4 * 0.5H2O). "Hemi" means one half and
"hydrate" means water. In other words, one water
sits between two CaSO4 molecules.
Barium sulfate is taken orally (like a milkshake
made from chalk) and is used to absorb xrays. This
allows the outline of the digestive tract to be
visible in xrays.
Sulfite: Sulfate has four oxygen atoms. If there are only
3 oxygen atoms, then the name changes to "sulfite".
The formula is "SO32-". It still has a negative (minus) 2
charge. This ion is important in health care because 1
out 100 people are sensitive to sulfite causing
sometimes severe allergic reactions. Some people have
died. The normal allergic reaction is breathing
difficulties. Sulfite is used as a preservative in wines
and many foods (like trail mix).
Sulfites are used to sterilize fermentation equipment
and food containers because of its antimicrobial
properties. Generally meat, cereals and dairy products
are not treated with it as it destroys the thiamine
(vitamin B1) content.
Most products don't list sulfite as an ingredient. They
will call it sulfur dioxide (or British spelling sulphur
dioxide). Sulfur dioxide is a gas. If you opened the
bag, the sulfur dioxide would escape and no longer
be a preservative. However, there's some moisture
in trail mix or even "dried" fruit. Plus, there's water
in wine. So the sulfur dioxide they list has actually
reacted with water. Here's the reaction: SO2 + H2O > H2SO3
The product is called sulfurous acid. Now you see
why they don't want to label it as sulfurous acid,
which is very close to sounding like sulfuric acid.
In water, the sulfurous acid breaks up into ions with
one being sulfite: H2SO3 -> 2H+ + SO32Now you can see the sulfite ion that some people are
allergic to.
Since we just showed a bag of dried apricots, let's talk about apricot seeds, another polyatomic
ion. The seeds and pits of apricots, cherries, almonds, peaches, and apples contain amygdalin.
Inside the intestine bacteria can break off a cyanide group making the cyanide ion (CN-). Under
the name of Laetrile, amygdalin has been proposed as a treatment for cancer, but the medical
community has rejected this claim. People desperate for a cancer cure will still buy these.
The type of cyanide used in gas chambers was
hydrogen cyanide. It is a gas. As it got into the
lungs and contacted water, it would break up into
hydrogen ions and cyanide ions.
The other poisonous forms of cyanide are the
sodium and potassium salts of cyanide. NaCN and
KCN. These were used in suicide pills that spies
carried with them.
Cassava is an important food source for 500 million
people around the world, but the roots contain a
substance that breaks down into cyanide. The
substance is similar to amygdalin above. An
enzyme in the plant turns the cyanide group on the
amygdalin-like compound into hydrogen cyanide (a
gas). One method of getting rid of it is to grind the
root into a paste and spreading it out into a thin
layer. In about 4 hours most of the hydrogen
cyanide will escape into the air. Another process to
reduce the cyanide compound is to grind and then
wash the cassava flour. Because of the dangers,
health organizations monitor the cyanide buildup
in the populations that eat cassava.
ACETATE:
Vinegar has been used for centuries to combat
microbes in foods. That's the basis of pickled
foods. Vinegar in stores is a 5% w/v (5 g/100mL)
solution of acetic acid. In water some of the acetic
acid loses a hydrogen ion (acid) that gets grabbed
by water.
HC2H3O2+ H2O -> C2H3O2- + H3O+
The negative ion of acetic acid is called "acetate".
The water that has grabbed the H+ ion is called the
hydronium ion.
Also in the picture is a bottle of zinc acetate, which
is a cold remedy. The bag contains sodium acetate.
Sodium acetate is used in instant heat packs. The
way it works is very interesting chemistry. When
placed in very hot water you can get a lot of
sodium acetate to dissolve, but when it cools back
down, some of the sodium acetate should
precipitated out of the water, but it doesn't. They
call that supersaturated because it has more
sodium acetate dissolved that that cool
temperature is capable of.
NaC2H3O2
A single crystal of sodium acetate or a disturbance
from the "activator button" can cause the sodium
acetate in the solution to turn to a solid. At that
point heat is released. The reason is that molecules
in a liquid are moving around, but molecules in a
solid are not moving around. Motion is energy,
more specifically kinetic energy. When these
molecules come to an abrupt halt as they go from
liquid to solid, that kinetic energy has to go
somewhere. That's the heat that is given off.
AMMONIUM, NH4+:
Nearly all polyatomic ions you encounter are
negatively charged. Ammonium is one that is
positively charge. Ammonium gets its name from
the Egyptian Ram God, Ammon. A salt with special
properties was discovered near the Temple of
Ammon. It was called Sal (salt) Ammoniac (NH4Cl).
When heated, it decomposes into ammonia and
hydrogen chloride gases. NH4Cl -> NH3 + HCl.
Other images: Ammonium chloride is used in
cough medicine. Ammonium nitrate is used as a
fertilizer and as an explosive. Ammonium
hydroxide (NH4OH) is used in cleaners.
Ammonia is one nitrogen bonded to 3 hydrogen
atoms. This illustration shows the outer electrons
of nitrogen and how by sharing 3 electrons with 3
hydrogen atoms, it achieves a stable 8 electron
configuration. On the right is water. One hydrogen
on the water will come off and attach itself to the
pair of electrons on ammonia. This hydrogen
leaves its one electron behind. Ammonia now
becomes the ammonum ion with a plus one
charge. The water is now the hydroxide ion (OH-).
It's negative because the hydrogen left its electron
behind. Together they are called ammonium
hydroxide.
Ammonia is created in the body from digestion of
proteins and amino acids (middle image: notice the
amino part of this amino acid). If there’s an excess
of nitrogen, the body converts it to urea, which is
less toxic than ammonia. Urea is expelled in the
urine.
Some babies are born without the enzymes to
convert ammonia to urea, so they develop
hyperammonemia, which is fatal or will cause brain
damage if not treated.
Bicarbonate (HCO3-):
In chemistry the new preferred name is hydrogen
carbonate; however, you will probably see the name,
bicarbonate, persist in the medical field for a long
time.
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is used in emergency
situations like heart attacks, kidney failures, and lung
problems to correct a pH imbalance from too much
acid in the blood. Here's the chemical equation of
neutralizing acid (H+):
H+ + HCO3- -> H2CO3
Maintaining the proper pH in the blood is a balancing
act between carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, and
bicarbonate ion. For example, if a person
hyperventilates (breathing too fast), they lose CO2
and the pH of the blood because less acidic. One
remedy it to have them breath into a paper bag so
that the CO2 gets reabsorbed into the blood stream
and brings back the lost acidity. Here's the key
reaction that shows how CO2 produces acid (H+):
CO2 + H2O -> H2CO3 -> H+ + HCO3Chlorates: Chlorates are a group of polyatomic ions
that are have one chlorine atom and one to four
oxygen atoms. (ClO-, ClO2-, ClO3-, & ClO4-). The names
in same order are hypochlorite, chlorite, chlorate,
and perchlorate.
In the medical field, sterilization is always critical.
One chlorate, sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), is the
main ingredient in Clorox and is commonly used as
an disinfectant. A syringe with NaClO solution is used
in dentistry to clean and disinfect root canals.
Chlorate, and perchlorate are also used as a source
of oxygen in fireworks and in rocket fuel.
Perchlorates from dumped rocket fuel have
contaminated the water supply in several states. This
is a health issue currently being examined.
Nitrate (NO3-) & Nitrite (NO2-): These are produced
by bacteria feeding off of human and animal waste.
Nitrate can also come for fertilizers such as
ammonium nitrate. High nitrate levels in drinking
water can harm infants. Nitrate is converted into
nitrite by bacteria that survives in infants’
stomachs. The nitrite ion enters the blood and
converts the hemoglobin in red blood cells to
methemoglobin The "met" is from "meta" meaning
"changed." This "changed" hemoglobin has less
ability to carry oxygen, causing a condition known
as methemoglobinemia, also called "blue baby
syndrome."
Below are tables and informaton from my help pages for a lab in CHM130; however, these tables
are good examples of naming compounds. Study them and you will learn a lot about nomenclature.
Binary compounds:
Tip on finding formula and name: Atoms that have a charge have a one-track mind. They are attracted to anything with
the opposite charge. In the table below the positive metal ions on the left column will all be attracted to the negative
non-metal ions on the top row. If the positive metal ion is 1+ and the negative ion is 1-, after they combine, their charges
balance out to zero. Being zero charge, they will not attract any other atoms. So the final formula is set as one each. For
example, Na+ + Cl- --> NaCl. Also, Ag+ + Cl- --> AgCl. If the metal ion is 2+ and the non-metal ion is 2-, they will also cancel
their charges when they combine. So the final formula is one each. For example, Fe2+ + O2- --> FeO. Now lets look at Na+
being attracted to O2-. After they combine, there's still a negative one charge because (+1) + (-2) = (-1). So NaO still has a
negative one charge (NaO-). That means they will attract another positive sodium ion (Na+). So, NaO- + Na+ --> Na2O. At
this point the charges all cancel and Na2O is neutral so there's no more attraction, meaning that's the final formula.
Remember, atoms can't think, but they can still make the right formula by simply coming together as long as there's a
charge present.
Tip on finding name: When there are just two kinds of atoms, the name of the compound begins with the name of the
positive ion (usually a metal). The second word is the name of the negative element except the name is shortened and
"ide" is added.
FILL IN THE MISSING FORMULAS & NAMES:
Na+
Cl-
O2-
N3-
S2-
P3-
NaCl
Sodium chloride
Na2O
Sodium oxide
Na3N
Sodium nitride
Na2S
Sodium sulfide
Na3P
Sodium phosphide
Mg2+
MgCl2
MgO
Mg3N2
MgS
Mg3P2
Magnesium chloride Magnesium oxide Magnesium nitride Magnesium sulfide Magnesium phosphide
Al3+
AlCl3
Aluminum chloride
Al3O2
Aluminum oxide
AlN
Aluminum nitride
Al2S3
Aluminum sulfide
AlP
Aluminum phosphide
Fe2+
FeCl2
Iron (II) chloride
FeO
Iron (II) oxide
Fe3N2
Iron (II) nitride
FeS
Iron (II) sulfide
Fe3P2
Iron (II) phosphide
Ag+
AgCl
Silver chloride
Ag2O
Silver oxide
Ag3N
Silver nitride
Ag2S
Silver sulfide
Ag3P
Silver phosphide
Cu+
CuCl
Copper (I) chloride
Cu2O
Copper (I) oxide
Cu3N
Copper (I) nitride
Cu2S
Copper (I) sulfide
Cu3P
Copper (I) phosphide
Notice some metals have a Roman numeral after them and some don't. If the metal can only have one charge, then
there's no reason to indicate the charge. Some metals, however, can have different charges so we have to indicate their
charge.
Ternary Compounds
Fill in the missing Formulas and Names:
CN-
NO3-
CO32-
SO42-
PO43-
NH4+
NH4CN
Ammonium
cyanide
NH4NO3
Ammonium
nitrate
(NH4)2CO3
Ammonium
carbonate
(NH4)2SO4
Ammonium
sulfate
(NH4)3PO4
Ammonium
phosphate
2+
Mg(CN)2
Magnesium
cyanide
Mg(NO3)2
Magnesium
nitrate
MgCO3
Magnesium
carbonate
MgSO4
Magnesium
sulfate
Mg3(PO4)2
Magnesium
phosphate
Al3+
Al(CN)3
Aluminum
cyanide
Al(NO3)3
Aluminum
nitrate
Al2(CO3)3
Aluminum
carbonate
Al2(SO4)3
Aluminum
sulfate
AlPO4
Aluminum phosphate
2+
Cu(CN)2
Copper (II)
cyanide
Cu(NO3)2
Copper (II)
nitrate
CuCO3
Copper (II)
carbonate
CuSO4
Copper (II)
sulfate
Cu3(PO4)2
Copper (II) phosphate
Ca
Cu
Notice that iron (III) below has the same charge as aluminum above so the number of the anions (negative ions)
will be the same. Since iron has more than one oxidation number, we must indicate which one it is. When
aluminum combines, it only has a +3 charge, so there's no reason to indicate the charge.
Fill in the missing Formulas and Names:
Fe
3+
CN-
NO3-
CO32-
SO42-
PO43-
Fe(CN)3
Iron (III) cyanide
Fe(NO3)3
Iron (III) nitrate
Fe2(CO3)3
Iron (III)
carbonate
Fe2(SO4)3
Iron (III) sulfate
FePO4
Iron (III) phosphate
DRUG NAMES
You've been learning about the polyatomic ions that are usually combined with a metal. You
will also see these polyatomic ions attached to various drugs. Polyatomic ions names are used
with many of the drugs we see.
This is an ampoule of morphine sulfate in a water
solution. Morphine (like many drugs) is not soluble
in water, so pharmaceutical companies turn
morphine into salts (ionic compounds) so that the
morphine will dissolve in water. They do that by
adding an acid to the morphine. Most any acid will
work and they have used about 20 of them to make
various salts of morphine. Because this is morphine
sulfate, they used sulfuric acid to convert the
morphine. See the next row for more details.
Ephedrine is another drug that is often converted to
a salt form. Again it makes it more water soluble,
which helps it dissolve in the stomach. This is
ephedrine hydrochloride being sold as a
bronchodilator. It's often used as a stimulant and
appetite suppressant.
To the left is the structure of ephedrine. Notice the
nitrogen. So this is another alkaloid compound. The
nitrogen accepts the H+ ion coming from
hydrochloric acid. The chloride ion remains nearby.
This make ephedrine much more water soluble.
 Remember nomenclature is all about recognizing patterns and groups.
 The main pattern is the balancing of charges.
 Recognizing individual element symbols is easy, the harder part is recognizing
when 2 or more elements behave as a group (polyatomic ions).

For example, "LiClO3" above shows us 3 elements, but we have to recognized
that the elements in "ClO3" are bound together tightly as a group, so it has its
own name of chlorate.
Ionic Compounds in our Daily Lives
Name: ____________________________________________
Date: __________________________________
1)
What is meant by a binary ionic compound?
2)
Why do ions "stick together"?
3)
When chemists say the word "salt", what do they mean? When common people say
"salt" to which compound are we most likely referring?
4)
If a doctor ran out of normal saline, how could you make some more (describe the
amounts and substances you would need)?
5)
What does "normal" saline mean?
6)
What does IV stand for?
7)
Why does the body need potassium?
8)
What is the name of the condition that occurs when the body does not have enough
potassium? What does the word mean?
9)
Explain why "K" is used for the symbol for potassium.
10)
What is Titanium (IV) oxide used for? Why do you think it might be more important to
use in snow, water or on mountains?
11)
What are polyatomic ions?
12)
What is another name for Iron (II) sulfate?
13)
What is one use of calcium sulfate?
14)
Why is barium sulfate sometimes given to patients who need an x-ray?
15)
How is the structure of sulfate different from the structure of sulfite?
16)
What are sulfites used for (give 3 uses)?
17)
Why don't they use sulfites on meats, cereals and dairy products?
18)
Why do food producers often list sulfur dioxide on their labels even though it is not really
sulfur dioxide that is the main ingredient in dried fruits? What compound is really on the
dried fruit?
19)
What is the name of the compound in the pits (seeds) of apricots, cherries, almonds,
peaches and apples? What polyatomic ions is found in that compound?
20)
What disease do some people think may be treated by CN-1?
21)
Cyanide is a deadly poison. It was used in gas chambers and in the suicide pills carried by
spies. List 3 ionic compounds used for these purposes?
22)
Why is it important for people who eat cassava to grind the cassava into flour and wash it
or spread it out in a thin layer for hours before eating it?
23)
What is one use of zinc acetate? What is the formula for the polyatomic ion in this
compound?
24)
What is the chemical compound in automatic heat packs?
25)
Name one positively charged polyatomic ion? Where does its name come from?
26)
What are the uses for:
A)
Ammonium chloride:
_________________________
B)
Ammonium nitrate:
_________________________ & ____________________
C)
Ammonium hydroxide: _________________________
27)
How is ammonia made in the body? How does the body get rid of the toxin?
28)
In what type of medical emergencies might a doctor give a patient sodium bicarbonate?
What does the compound do in the body?
29)
Why does it help to breathe into a bag if a patient is hyperventilating? Explain the
chemistry.
30)
Give a function for the following compounds:
31)
A)
sodium hypochlorite:
_______________________________
B)
NaClO solution:
_______________________________
C)
Chlorate and perchlorate:
_______________________________
What causes "blue baby" syndrome:
Complete the tables in the readings...
32)
Why is it necessary to mix morphine with something like sulfuric acid?
33)
What is the chemical compound in ephedrine? What is this compound used for?