Ionic bonding

• What type of bond is formed when particles bond together through ionic bonds?

  Ionic bonds
• How are ions formed from atoms?

  Ions are formed when atoms lose or gain electrons
• What happens to a sodium atom to form a sodium ion?

  A sodium atom loses one electron to form a sodium one plus ion
• Why does a sodium atom need to lose an electron?

  To achieve stability by having a full outer shell
• What is the charge of a chloride ion formed from chlorine?

  One minus
• What is the significance of the square brackets around ions in ionic compounds?

  They indicate the ions have full outer shells of electrons
• What type of forces attract the oppositely charged ions in an ionic compound?

  Electrostatic forces
• How strong is an ionic bond compared to a covalent bond?

  Similar in strength
• What is a dot and cross diagram used for?

  To represent the bonding of electrons between atoms
• How do you differentiate between the electrons of two different atoms in a dot and cross diagram?

  By drawing the electrons of one atom as dots and the other as crosses
• What should you show to indicate the movement of electrons in a dot and cross diagram?

  An arrow
• When drawing a dot and cross diagram, what is sometimes required regarding electron shells?

  You may only need to draw the outermost shell
• How do you draw the dot and cross diagram for the formation of magnesium chloride (MgCl₂)?


  1. Draw magnesium with two outer electrons.
  2. Draw two chlorine atoms, each with seven outer electrons.
  3. Show the transfer of one electron from magnesium to each chlorine.
  4. Represent magnesium as a Mg²⁺ ion and each chlorine as Cl^- ion.
  5. Arrange the ions with chlorides on either side of magnesium.
• What happens to magnesium when it forms an ionic bond with chlorine?

  Magnesium loses two electrons to form a magnesium two plus ion
• How many chloride ions are formed when magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) is created?

  Two chloride ions
• Why do electrons generally move from metals to non-metals in ionic bonding?

  Because metals tend to lose electrons while non-metals tend to gain them
• How are the ions arranged in a dot and cross diagram involving more than two ions?

  They are arranged as they would be in a real compound
• What type of bond is formed when particles bond together through ionic bonds?

  Ionic bonds
• How are ions formed from atoms?

  Ions are formed when atoms lose or gain electrons
• What is the equation for the formation of a sodium ion?


  Sodium atom goes to form a sodium one plus ion plus one electron
• Why does a sodium atom need to lose an electron?

  To become stable by having a full outer shell
• What does chlorine need to do to form a chloride ion?

  Chlorine needs to gain one electron
• What happens to sodium and chlorine after the transfer of electrons?

  Both atoms become ions with full outer shells of electrons
• How are ions represented in diagrams?

  With big square brackets around them and their charge in the top right corner
• What is the nature of the attraction between the two ions formed?

  The two ions have opposite charges and are attracted to each other by electrostatic forces
• What is the term used for the force that holds ionic compounds together?

  Ionic bond
• How does the strength of ionic bonds compare to covalent bonds?

  Ionic bonds are similar in strength to covalent bonds
• What is a dot and cross diagram used for?

  To represent the bonding of atoms
• How are electrons represented in a dot and cross diagram?

  Electrons of one atom are shown as dots and the other as crosses
• What should you show in a dot and cross diagram to indicate electron movement?

  You should show the movement of any electrons with an arrow
• What is the difference in drawing requirements for dot and cross diagrams?

  Sometimes you only have to draw the outermost shell
• How do you draw the dot and cross diagram for magnesium chloride (MgCl₂)?


  • Draw magnesium with two outer electrons.
  • Draw two chlorine atoms, each with seven outer electrons.
  • Show the transfer of one electron from magnesium to each chlorine.
  • Represent magnesium as a Mg²⁺ ion and each chlorine as Cl^- ion.
  • Arrange the ions with chlorides on either side of magnesium.
• What happens to magnesium when it forms an ionic bond with chlorine?

  Magnesium loses two electrons to become a magnesium two plus ion
• How many chloride ions are formed when magnesium chloride is created?

  Two chloride ions are formed
• Why do electrons generally move from metals to non-metals in ionic bonding?

  Because metals tend to lose electrons while non-metals tend to gain them
• What is the charge of a chloride ion?


  One minus (Cl^-)
• What is the charge of a magnesium ion?

  Two plus (Mg²⁺)
• How are the ions arranged in a dot and cross diagram involving more than two ions?

  The ions are arranged like they would be in a real compound
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