3.3 The Ionic bond
Objectives
• To describe how metals react with non-metals to form ionic
compounds.
• To define ionic bond.
• To describe the lattice structure of sodium chloride.
How sodium and chlorine atoms bond together
The two ions have opposite charges, so they attract
each other. The force of attraction between them is
strong. It is called an ionic bond.
The ionic bond is a strong electrostatic attraction
between ions of opposite charge.
How solid sodium chloride is formed
Other ionic compounds
• An ionic compound forms when metal atoms lose electrons to nonmetal atoms. This gives positive metal ions and negative non-metal
ions, with full outer electron shells. They form a lattice.
• The compound has no overall charge.
Magnesium oxide
Magnesium chloride
Each magnesium atom transfers an electron to two
chlorine atoms, to form magnesium chloride. So the
formula of the compound is MgCl2. It has no overall
charge.
Self Evaluation
Self Evaluation
Answers