2.11 Ionic bonding

Question 1

What is ionic bonding?

Answer 1

When a metal and a non-metal react together, such as when Group 1 metals react with Group 7 elements, the metal atom loses electrons to form a positive ion (cation) and the non-metal gains these electrons to form a negative ion (anion). These oppositely charged ions are strongly attracted to one another by electrostatic forces.