Formation of Ionic Bonds - Metals & Non-Metals
Chemistry: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 2.4.3
Formation of Ionic Bonds Between Metallic and Non-Metallic Ions
Ionic bonds form between metals and non-metals. Opposite charges attract, shown via dot-and-cross diagrams illustrating electron transfer.
What are ionic bonds?
- Ionic bonds form when metals lose electrons and non-metals gain electrons.
- This creates positive metal ions and negative non-metal ions.
- Opposite charges attract, making an ionic bond.
- Ionic bonds create strong forces holding ions together in compounds.
Metals and non-metals in ionic bonds
- Metallic elements lose electrons to form positive ions (cations).
- Non-metallic elements gain electrons to form negative ions (anions).
- Example: Sodium (metal) loses 1 electron to chlorine (non-metal).
- This forms Na+ and Cl- ions, which attract each other.
Dot-and-cross diagrams in ionic bonds
- Dot-and-cross diagrams show electrons from each atom.
- Dots represent electrons from one element, crosses from the other.
- Diagrams illustrate electron transfer from metal to non-metal.
- After transfer, ions have full outer energy levels (stable).
Formation of sodium chloride (NaCl) - Example
- Sodium (Na) has 1 electron in its outer shell.
- Chlorine (Cl) has 7 electrons in its outer shell.
- Sodium donates 1 electron to chlorine.
- Dot-and-cross diagram shows this transfer clearly.
- Na+ and Cl- ions attract to form ionic bond in NaCl.
Test yourself on Formation of Ionic Bonds - Metals & Non-Metals
When an ionic bond forms, what happens to electrons?
After electron transfer in ionic bonding, why are the resulting ions considered stable?