Formations of ions

• Ions are formed when atoms gain or lose electrons.
• The number of electrons gained/lost by an atom is equal to the charge on its ion.
• Metals tend to form positive ions, while non-metals tend to form negative ions.
• When two oppositely charged ions come together, they attract each other strongly due to electrostatic forces.
• This attraction between opposite charges results in the formation of an ionic compound.
• In an ionic compound, there are no free electrons, only positively and negatively charged ions held together by strong electrostatic attractions.