Nature of ionic bonding

• Chemical bonds always occur between the outer shell electrons
• • Noble gases have full outer shells and are very unreactive
  • When atoms bond together, they share or transfer electrons to achieve a more stable electron arrangement - often a full outer shell
  • Three types of strong chemical bonds (ionic, metallic and covalent)
• • Ionic bonding is between metals and non-metals
  • Electrons are donated from metals to non-metals
  • Positive and negative ions are formed
  • The two ions are attracted to each other by electrostatic forces
• Ionic compounds always exist in a giant lattice
• Ionically bonded compounds are always solids at room temperature. They have giant structures and so have high melting points.
• Ionically bonded structures conduct electricity when molten or dissolved in water (aqueous) but not when solid due to the ions being free to move around and carry the charge only when it is not a solid
• Ionically bonded compounds are brittle and shatter easily when hit due to their structure. They alternate in rows between positive and negative ions, meaning that when hit, the ions can move positions and ions of the same charge will interact and repel, breaking the compound.