Ionic Bonds
What are Ionic Bonds?
- Ionic bonds are formed when electrons are transferred from a metal atom to a non-metal atom.
- The metal atom loses electrons to become a positively charged ion called a cation.
- The non-metal atom gains electrons to become a negatively charged ion called an anion.
- These oppositely charged ions are then attracted to each other, forming an ionic bond.
Properties of Ionic Compounds
- Ionic compounds form crystalline structures known as giant ionic lattices.
- They often have high melting and boiling points due to the strong electrostatic forces between ions.
- Ionic substances are usually soluble in water, but insoluble in non-polar solvents.
- When dissolved in water or melted, ionic substances conduct electricity as the ions become free to move and carry charges.
Examples of Ionic Compounds
- Sodium Chloride (NaCl): Sodium loses 1 electron to become a +1 cation, and chlorine gains this electron to become a -1 anion. They come together to form an ionic bond in sodium chloride.
- Calcium Oxide (CaO): Calcium loses 2 electrons to become a +2 cation and oxygen gains these 2 electrons to become a -2 anion. They come together to form an ionic bond in calcium oxide.
It’s important to draw the dot-and-cross diagrams for these compounds to fully understand ionic bonding.
Key Points of Understanding
- Understand the process of electron transfer in ionic bonding.
- Know the properties of ionic compounds.
- Be able to identify examples of ionic compounds and draw their dot-and-cross diagrams.