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Bonding

Ionic bonding and the formation of ions

  • 3 things to know
  • Components 1 and 2

Overview

Ionic bond, electron transfer that takes place when magnesium oxide is formed and giant ionic lattice.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Define an ionic bond.

Key term

Why is the attraction in an ionic bond described as non-directional?

Key term

Why do ionic compounds have high melting temperatures?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define an ionic bond.

    Model answer

    An ionic bond is the strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

  2. 2

    How are the ions in an ionic compound formed?

    Model answer

    One or more electrons are transferred from a metal atom to a non-metal atom, so that each ion is left with the stable electron arrangement of a noble gas.

  3. 3

    Describe the electron transfer that takes place when magnesium oxide is formed.

    Model answer

    Magnesium loses its two 3s electrons to become Mg²⁺ and oxygen gains those two electrons to become O²⁻, so both end with the arrangement of neon.

  4. 4

    Why is the attraction in an ionic bond described as non-directional?

    Model answer

    The electrostatic field around an ion acts equally in every direction, so the ion attracts all of its oppositely charged neighbours rather than being bonded to one particular partner.

  5. 5

    What is a giant ionic lattice?

    Model answer

    It is a regular three-dimensional array in which every ion is surrounded by ions of opposite charge, repeating throughout the whole crystal.

  6. 6

    Why do ionic compounds have high melting temperatures?

    Model answer

    A very large number of strong electrostatic attractions act throughout the lattice, so a great deal of energy is needed to separate the ions.

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