[Your Name] Date: [Date] Purpose: To use a puzzle model to visualize how cations and anions combine in ratios that neutralize charge, forming stable ionic compounds.

The ionic bonding puzzle successfully demonstrates that . The ratio of ions is determined by the lowest common multiple of their charges. Cations (metals, positive) and anions (nonmetals or polyatomic ions, negative) combine until total charge = 0. The chemical formula is a shorthand for that ratio.

cation will feature three protruding pegs, which requires either three separate -1negative 1