In every ionic compound, the total number of positive charges of the cations equals the total number of negative charges of the anions. Thus, ionic compounds are electrically neutral overall, even though they contain positive and negative ions.

What does it mean for a compound to be electrically neutral?

The overall ionic formula for a compound must be electrically neutral, meaning it has no charge. ... Polyatomic ions are a set of covalently bonded atoms that have an overall charge, making them an ion. Polyatomic ions form ionic bonds in the typical way, balancing so that the overall compound is electrically neutral.

Why covalent compounds are electrically neutral?

Compounds that contain covalent bonds exhibit different physical properties than ionic compounds. Because the attraction between molecules, which are electrically neutral, is weaker than that between electrically charged ions, covalent compounds generally have much lower melting and boiling points than ionic compounds.