Ionic Bonding

• Ionic bonding occurs between a metal and a non-metal. Ionic bonding involves a transfer of electrons.
• When an atom gains or loses electrons it becomes an ion.
• Metal atoms lose ions to form positive ions.
• Non-metal atoms gain electrons to form negative ions.
• The size of the charge on the ion is equal to the valency of the element i.e. the number of unpaired electrons.
• An ionic bond is the attraction between ions of opposite charge.
• An ionic lattice is a large 3-dimensional network of oppositely charged ions held together by electrostatic forces.