Ionic bond

Ionic bond

An Ionic bond is a type of Chemical bond that involves the Electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. These kinds of bonds occur when electrons are transferred from one atom to another. In the process of either losing or gaining negatively charged electrons, the reacting atoms form ions. The atom that loses electrons becomes a positively charged ion, while the one that gains electrons becomes negatively charged.

Formation

Ionic bonding is the complete transfer of Valence electrons between atoms. It is a type of Chemical bond that generates two oppositely charged ions. In ionic bonds, the metal loses electrons to become a positively charged Cation, and the nonmetal accepts those electrons to become a negatively charged Anion.

Properties

Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points, and they are hard and brittle. As solids they are most often electrically insulating, but when melted or dissolved they become highly conductive, because the ions are mobilized.

Examples

The table salt (NaCl) is a common example of a compound with an ionic bond. Others include Lithium fluoride (LiF), Calcium chloride (CaCl2), and Magnesium oxide (MgO).

See also

• Covalent bond
• Metallic bond
• Polar bond
• Hydrogen bond