ionic bonding 1

• What are ions?

  Charged particles that can be single atoms or groups of atoms
• How do negative ions (anions) form?


  Atoms gain electrons and have more electrons than protons
• How do positive ions (cations) form?


  Atoms lose electrons and have more protons than electrons
• What is the relationship between the number of electrons lost/gained and the charge on an ion?

  The number of electrons lost or gained is the same as the charge on the ion
• What type of elements form positive ions (cations)?

  Group 1, 2 and 3 elements (metals)
• What type of elements form negative ions (anions)?

  Group 5, 6 and 7 elements (non-metals)
• What is the charge on ions formed by Group 7 elements?

  1-
• What is the charge on ions formed by Group 1 elements?

  1+
• What is the charge on ions formed by Group 3 elements?

  3+
• What is the charge on ions formed by Group 2 elements?

  2+
• What is the charge on ions formed by Group 5 elements?

  3-
• What is the charge on ions formed by Group 6 elements?

  2-
• What is the process of ionic bonding?

  • When a metal and a non-metal react, the metal atom loses electrons to form a positive ion (cation)
  • The non-metal atom gains these electrons to form a negative ion (anion)
  • The oppositely charged ions are strongly attracted to each other by electrostatic forces, forming an ionic bond
• What happens during the reaction between sodium and chlorine to form an ionic bond?


  • The sodium atom gives up its outer electron to become a Na+ ion
  • The chlorine atom picks up the spare electron to become a Cl- ion
  • The oppositely charged ions are strongly attracted to each other by electrostatic forces, forming an ionic bond
• How do the properties of ionic compounds differ from covalent compounds?

  Ionic compounds have high melting/boiling points and are usually crystalline solids, while covalent compounds can be gases, liquids or solids with lower melting/boiling points
• What are the key differences between ionic and covalent bonding?


  • Ionic bonding involves the complete transfer of electrons between a metal and a non-metal
  • Covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons between two non-metals
  • Ionic compounds are usually crystalline solids with high melting/boiling points
  • Covalent compounds can be gases, liquids or solids with lower melting/boiling points
• If you wanted to observe the surface features of a sample at high magnification, which type of microscope would you use?

  Scanning electron microscope (SEM)