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An atom has an equal number of protons and electrons, making it electrically neutral. An ion is an atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost electrons, giving it a positive (cation) or negative (anion) charge.

Ionic compounds typically form between metals and non-metals. They contain cations (positive ions) and anions (negative ions) held together by electrostatic forces. Common examples include salt (NaCl) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃).

The chemical name of water is dihydrogen monoxide, though it's commonly just called water. Its molecular formula is H₂O, consisting of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

Common table salt is sodium chloride, with the chemical formula NaCl. It consists of sodium cations (Na⁺) and chloride anions (Cl⁻) in a 1:1 ratio.

BaCO₃ is barium carbonate. It consists of barium cations (Ba²⁺) and carbonate anions (CO₃²⁻). This compound is commonly used in rat poison and ceramic glazes.

When naming ionic compounds with transition metals, you must specify the charge of the metal ion using Roman numerals in parentheses. For example, FeCl₂ is iron(II) chloride and FeCl₃ is iron(III) chloride.

Polyatomic ions are groups of atoms that carry a net electric charge. Common examples include nitrate (NO₃⁻), sulfate (SO₄²⁻), and carbonate (CO₃²⁻). They act as single units in chemical formulas.

A molecule is any group of atoms bonded together, while a compound is a substance made of two or more different elements. All compounds are molecules, but not all molecules are compounds (e.g., O₂ is a molecule but not a compound).