Examples of Ionic Compounds in Everyday Life

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Examples of Ionic Compounds
Examples of ionic compounds in everyday life include table salt, baking soda, lye, Epsom salt, and bleach.

There are many examples of ionic compounds in everyday life. Ionic compounds consist of atoms joined together by ionic bonds. Many ionic compounds are binary compounds formed by a metal and a nonmetal. However, sometimes ionic compounds form between polyatomic cations and anions that contain covalently-bonded atoms. The most common and familiar ionic compound is table salt, NaCl. But, there are many other ionic compounds around you. Here are examples of ionic compounds in everyday life.

Ionic CompoundNameUse
NaClsodium chloridetable salt
NaHCO3sodium bicarbonatebaking soda
Na2CO3sodium carbonatewashing soda
MgSO4magnesium sulfateEpsom salt
KClpotassium chlorideno-sodium salt
NaOClsodium hypochloritechlorine bleach
NaFsodium fluoridefluoride in toothpaste
CaCO3calcium carbonateantacid ingredient
NaOHsodium hydroxidelye, drain cleaner
Mg(OH)2magnesium hydroxideantacid ingredient
K2HPO4dipotassium phosphateplant fertilizer, food additive
Na2HPO4disodium hydrogen phosphatewater softener, anti-caking agent in powdered goods
Na2SO3sodium sulfitefood preservative
Al(OH)3aluminum hydroxideantacid ingredient
MgCl2magnesium chlorideroad salt for ice control
Ionic compounds in daily life

Covalent and Ionic Compound Worksheet

Download and print this PDF worksheet and answer key that asks names of compounds and whether they are covalent or ionic.

[PDF Worksheet] [Answer Key]

References

  • Brown, Theodore L.; LeMay, H. Eugene, Jr; Bursten, Bruce E.; Lanford, Steven; Sagatys, Dalius; Duffy, Neil (2009). Chemistry: The Central Science: A Broad Perspective (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Australia. ISBN 978-1-4425-1147-7.
  • International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Division of Chemical Nomenclature (2005). Neil G. Connelly (ed.). Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations 2005 (New ed.). Cambridge: RSC Publ. ISBN 978-0-85404-438-2.
  • Wenk, Hans-Rudolph; Bulakh, Andrei (2004). Minerals: Their Constitution and Origin (1st ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-39390-5.
  • Zumdahl, Steven; Zumdahl, Susan (2015). Chemistry: An Atoms First Approach. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1-305-68804-9.