Ionic Bonding
Chemistry: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 6.1.3
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.
Group 1 metals
- Group 1 metals always lose 1 electron to form 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+.
Group 2 metals
- Group 2 metals always lose 2 electrons to form 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 & 7)
- Non-metal atoms always gain electrons to form (become) 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-.
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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.
Test yourself on Ionic Bonding
Which of the following are not usually involved in ionic bonding?