[chunkmartinez]

Im in the process of learning organic chem(well also inorganic), but am having difficulties understanding.
As far as a peice from this TUT goes:

Anyways, some simple two-atom molecules have names ending in -ide, like hydroxide (OH-), cyanide (CN-), and peroxide (O2 with a -2 charge). The negatives behind the first two compounds denotes a -1 charge

Would these be ionic bonds? As far as Hydroxide goes, how does hydrogen and oxygen bond, and turn out to have a -1 charge? And 02, having -2 charge? Are they negative ions? Im confused! Help. Thanks

[english]

Those atoms are covalently bonded, but one has one more lone pair than it usually would, based on Lewis structures.  So they are, in essence, ions.

For example, HO^- indicates that the O atom has 3 lone pairs and only one bond.

Oxygen has no charge with two bonds, nitrogen with 3 bonds, and carbon with 4 bonds. 

Note that the number of bonds these atoms must have to have no charge is the group number of the Noble gases (Group 8A) minus that atom's group number.

For example, oxygen's group number is 6, so it will not have a charge if it has 8 - 6 bonds. 

Remember that the O atom is still covalently bonded to the hydrogen.

[chunkmartinez]

If these(like HO-) have a negative charge, will they try to seek other atoms to neutralize the charge? And are they considered ions? Thus, is HO-, considered highly reactive?

[chunkmartinez]

Also, would this be known as a double bond between 2 oxygens?:

[english]

Generally, yes.  Charged species such as HO are strong bases.  Anything that is "strong" is relatively reactive towards other species.

You can think of it in terms of energy.  Charges generally mean instability in most cases, however do not think this is always the case.

For example, COO^- is a relatively weaker base than HO^-, due to resonance.  Both are charged, but one is far more stable than the other.


Unstable species want to react in some way to attain a lower energy. In most cases, acids and bases can be referred by their reactivity by saying that the higher their energy, the stronger, and thus more reactive, they are.

[chunkmartinez]

Thanks g english.

[english]

Thanks g english.

No prob.