Key terms

Here are the key terms used throughout this simulation. Please use this theory page as a glossary when needed:

  • Inorganic - anything that does not contain a majority of carbon
  • Nomenclature - the noun for naming in science
  • Monoatomic - consisting of only one atom
  • Polyatomic - consisting of multiple atoms
  • Anion - negatively charged ion, formed by nonmetals only
  • Cation - positively charged ion, formed by metals only
  • Binary compound - a compound consisting of exactly two different elements
  • Ionic compound - a compound that is primarily held together by ionic bonds, which is often the case for binary compounds of one metal and one nonmetal
  • Covalent compound - a compound that is primarily held together by covalent bonds, which is often the case for binary compounds of two nonmetals
  • Oxyanion - negatively charged ion that contains an element covalently bonded to oxygen
  • Oxyacid - a neutral compound that contains hydrogen, oxygen, and at least one other covalently bonded element