O-Levels / IGCSE Chemistry

Ionic Bonding
Def:

Ionic bonding is the bond that is formed by complete transferring of electrons from one atom to
another.

 Ionic bonds are formed between METALLIC and NON- METALLIC ATOMS ONLY.

Metals lose electrons to form positive ions (cations)

Recall your
Non-metals gain electrons to form negative ions (anions) previous topic

 The formation of ions is resulted from transfer of electrons from one atom to another
atom(s), which the ions produced are of opposite charges, and unlike charges attract,
causing them to be held together with a strong force.

Example: Formation of NaCl

 Sodium atom loses an electron by transferring the electron to chlorine atom, making both
stable.
 The loss of electron forms cation, Na+, and the gain of electron forms anion, Cl-.
 The opposite charges acquired by both ions attract to each other, forming a strong ionic
bond of NaCl.

Deducing formula of ionic compounds

We can know the charge of elements by looking at groups of periodic table.

Group I to group III elements has charge of +1, increasing to +3, going to the right.

Group V to group VII elements has charge of -3, decreasing to -1, going to the right.

E.g. Aluminium sulfate

We have to balance the charges to make a stable bond.

Ions present:
Al3+ SO42-

By applying cross exchange method/ Criss Cross method. The formula will be Al2(SO4)3

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Total change: 6+ 6-

Revision Point

The symbol of metal ion should always be first, e.g. NaCl

Polyatomic ion should be placed in brackets, e.g. Fe(NO3)2

As we have discussed that “Ionic compound usually form between a metal and a non-metal.
(Have a look on your periodic table and work on the following mentioned compounds)
1. Dot and Cross Diagram's for ionic compounds :
 The symbol shown - at the center.
 Valence shell shown if the question states so, otherwise all the shells are to be shown.
 Brackets are always to be drawn with charges as superscripts.
Draw the dot and cross diagram of the following compounds:
a) NaCl (Draw only the valence electrons)

b) MgO (Draw all the electrons)

c) MgCl2 (Draw the valence electrons)

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Structure and Properties of ionic bond

1 Na+ is
surrounded by 6
Cl – and vice versa.

Same structure for

Magnesium Oxide

Structure
Ionic substances appear as giant lattice structures which the ions are held together by electrostatic
force between oppositely charged ions.

To find the formula of ionic bond, say sodium chloride bond, by looking at lattice structure, we count
the ratio of amount of metal ions to non-metal ions.

E.g. in sodium chloride, the ratio Na:Cl is 1:1, therefore the ionic formula is NaCl.

Properties
TIP for properties: M.S.C
Melting point

•Ionic compounds have very high melting points and boiling points.

Solubility

•Ionic compounds are soluble in water but insoluble in organic compounds.

Conductivity

•Solid ionic compounds don’t conduct electricity but they do when they are aqueous or
molten.

 Ionic compounds are hard crystalline solids with flat sides and regular shapes because the
ions are arranged in straight rows in strong ionic bonds.
 The strong forces holding ionic compounds prevents them to evaporate easily. Hence, ionic
compounds have no smell.
 Solid ionic compounds don’t conduct electricity but they do when they are aqueous or
molten.This is because in liquid/aqueous state the ions which conduct electricity are free to
move. In solids, these ions are fixed in place.
 Ionic compounds are soluble in water but insoluble in organic compounds. This is because
the ions attract water molecules which distrupts the crystal structure, causing them separate
& go into solution. Vice versa when in organic solvent.

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Ionic Bonding

Name: _______________________ Date: _______________

Circle the correct answer.

1. How do metal atoms form ions?

a. They lose electrons to form negative ions
b. They gain electrons to form positive ions
c. They lose electrons to form positive ions
2. Which of these statements about a negative ion is true?
a. It has an equal number of protons and electrons
b. It has more protons than electrons
c. It has more electrons than protons
3. Bromine is in group 7 of the periodic table. What is the charge on its ions?
a. -1
b. -2
c. 1
4. A magnesium ion has the formula Mg2+. What is its electronic structure?
a. 2,8
b. 2,8,2
c. 2,8,4
5. What type of forces hold an ionic lattice together?
a. Electrostatic forces
b. Covalent forces
c. Iono-static forces
6. A diagram of part of the crystal of calcium chloride shows 15 calcium ions and 30 chloride
ions. What is the formula of calcium chloride?
a. CaCl
b. CaCl2
c. Ca2Cl
7. What properties does an ionic compound have?
a. A low boiling point and it conducts electricity when dissolved in water
b. A high melting point and it conducts electricity when liquid
c. A high boiling point and it conducts electricity when solid

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8. Which of these is an advantage of a two-dimensional space-filling model?

a. It shows the directions of the forces between the ions
b. It shows the arrangement of ions in many layers
c. It shows the arrangement of ions in one layer
9. Sulfur is in group 6 of the periodic table. What is the formula of its ion?
a. S6-
b. S4+
c. S2-
10. An ion has the formula Ba2+. What group of the periodic table is its element in?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 6

Write down any three characteristic properties of ionic compounds. [3]

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Fill in the following table, writing the correct formula for the compound containing the indicated
ions. [6

Br- O2-

Ca2+

Sn4+

Na+

The diagram below shows the electron arrangement of magnesium and oxygen.

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Draw a diagram to show how a bond is made between magnesium and oxygen. [2]

What name is given to this kind of bond? ________________________ [1]

What forces keep these particles together? ________________________ [1]

What is the name of the compound made? ________________________ [1]

Draw a diagram to show the 3D lattice of this compound. [2]

Why does solid sodium chloride not conduct electricity but molten sodium chloride does? [2]

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MgO & NaCl has same structure but Melting point of MgO is greater than NaCl. Why? [2]

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