Ionic Bonding

Question 1

What is the ionic bonding? Explain it.

Answer 1

Ionic bonding is the transfer of electrons. When a metal and a non-metal react together, the metal atom loses electrons to form a positively charged ions and the non-metals gains these electrons to form a negatively charged ion. These oppositely charged are strongly attracted to one another by electrostatic forces. This attraction is called an ionic bonding.

Question 2

What shows how the ionic compounds are formed?

Answer 2

Dot and cross diagrams show the arrangement of electrons in an atom or ion. Each electron is represented by a dot or a cross. So these diagrams can show which atom the electrons in an ion originally came from.

Question 3

Describe in words

Sodium Chloride (NaCl).
Na - 2, 8,1 - Sodium atom.
Cl - 2,8,7 - Chlorine atom.

Answer 3

The sodium atom gives up its outer electron, becoming a Na+ ion. The chloride atom picks up the electron, becoming a Cl- ion.
Na+ - 2,8 - Sodium ion.
Cl- - 2,8,8 - Chlorine ion.

Question 4

Describe in words.

Magnesium Oxide (MgO).
Mg - 2,8,2 - Magnesium atom.
O - 2, 6 - Oxygen atom.

Answer 4

The magnesium atom gives up its two outer electrons, becoming an Mg²+ ion. The oxygen atom picks up the electrons, becoming an O²- (oxide) ion.
Mg²+ - 2, 8 - Magnesium ion.
O²- - 2, 8 - Oxide ion.

Question 5

Describe in words.

Magnesium Chloride (MgCl₂).
Mg - 2, 8, 2 - Magnesium atom.
2Cl - 2, 8, 7 - Chlorine atom.

Answer 5

The magnesium atom gives up its two outer electrons, becoming an Mg²+ ion. The two chloride atoms pick up one electron each, becoming to Cl- ions.
Cl- - 2, 8, 8 - Chloride ion.
Mg²+ - 2, 8 - Magnesium ion.
Cl- - 2, 8, 8 - Chloride ion.

Question 6

Sodium Oxide (Na₂O).
2Na - 2, 8, 1 - Sodium atom.
O - 2, 6 - Oxygen atom.

Answer 6

Two sodium atoms each give up their single outer electron, becoming two Na+ ions. The oxygen atom picks up the two electrons, becoming an O²- ion.