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Ionic Bonding

When atoms form ions, they try to fill up or empty their outer electron shell. In ionic bonding, a metal atom transfers electrons to a non-metal atom, allowing both of them (the metal and non-metal) to have a full outer electron shell.

Ions formed from Group 1 metals

Ions formed from Group 1 metals

  • Group 1 metals lose 1 electron resulting in the formation of positive ions with a charge of +1.
    • E.g. a sodium atom (Na), with the electronic structure (2,8,1), loses its outer electron when forming an ion to make Na+.
Ions formed from Group 2 metals

Ions formed from Group 2 metals

  • Group 2 metals always lose 2 electrons resulting in the formation of doubly positive ions.
    • E.g. a magnesium atom (Mg), with the electronic structure (2,8,2), loses both its outer electrons when forming an ion to make Mg2+.
Non-metals (Groups 6 and 7)

Non-metals (Groups 6 and 7)

  • Non-metal atoms always gain electrons resulting in the formation of negative ions.
    • E.g. a fluorine atom (F), with the electronic structure (2,7), will gain an electron when forming an ion to make F-.
Noble gases (Group 0)

Noble gases (Group 0)

  • Noble gases already have a full outer shell. Noble gases are unreactive and don't normally form ionic bonds with other elements.
Jump to other topics
1

Atomic Structure

2

Chemical Bonding

3

Quantitative Chemistry

4

Chemical Changes

5

Energy Changes

6

The Rate & Extent of Chemical Change

7

Organic Chemistry

8

Chemical Analysis

9

Chemistry of the Atmosphere

10

Using Resources

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