What is an ionic bond?

1 Answer
Mar 5, 2016

An ionic bond is the electrostatic force of attraction between two oppositely charged ions.

Explanation:

E.g., a sodium ("Na"Na) atom, with an electron arrangement of 2,8,1, loses an electron and forms a sodium ion ("Na"^+Na+) to have a full valence shell (2,8).

Chlorine ("Cl"Cl) has an electron arrangement of 2,8,7.

It gains an electron and forms a chloride ion ("Cl"^"-"Cl-) to have a full valence shell (2,8,8).

These two ions have an ionic bonding that consists of their electrostatic attraction for each other.

The rules of becoming an ion are:

  • if an atom has 3 or fewer electrons in its valence shell, it will tend to lose electrons.
  • if an atom has 5 or more electrons it its valence shell, it will tend to gain electrons.