What is the main difference between monatomic and polyatomic ions.

Monoatomic has one atom, polyatomic has many atoms.

Work Cited:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Difference_between_monoatomic_ions_and_polyatomic_ions

A class mate insists that sodium gains a postive charge when it becomes an ion because it gains a proton. Explain the students error.

The students error is you would lose an electron, not gain a proton. It's always the opposite, if there's a positive charge, you lose an electron, negative charge, gain a proton.

Why are most metals found in nature as ores that need refining and not as pure metals?

Metals are reactive and can have a more stable configuration by forming compounds.

Work Cited:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071024115125AAbVerr

Under the right conditions ionic substances can conduct electricity very well. Describe these conditions and explain why an ionic substance would be a poor choice as a conductor for a computer circuit board.

They are absorbed in water. They'd be a bad choice for a circuit board because they don't work in water.

Work Cited:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/In_what_conditions_do_ionic_compounds_conduct_the_best_electricity

Name two properties of metals and explain each in terms of the bonding model for metals.

High melting points
High densities

These would effect the bonding because they both have high melting points so if they bonded by melting, it would take longer. Their densities would also effect their overall product.

Work Cited:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementgroups/a/metals.htm

Using the formula of a compound. how might we determine whether or not its ionic.

Ions need to have a full octet, if there is two elements that can either be positive or negative then one needs to gain an electron so it can act like the nearest noble gas, while the other needs to lose an electrons. Then they will react and make an ionic compound.

Describe the attractive and repulsive forces that occur as two atoms are brought closer together.

When two atoms are brought closer together the attraction pulls the electrons from one atom with the other atom's nucleus. Then they become balanced because of the repulsive force that makes them have a positive charge when they are pulled together.