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2.4 Ions & Ionic Bonds

This document provides an overview of ions and ionic bonds, explaining the formation of ions, the process of ionization in metals and non-metals, and the creation of ionic compounds through electron transfer. It describes the lattice structure of ionic compounds and their properties, such as high melting and boiling points and electrical conductivity. Additionally, it includes tips for drawing dot-and-cross diagrams to represent ionic bonds.

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10 views8 pages

2.4 Ions & Ionic Bonds

This document provides an overview of ions and ionic bonds, explaining the formation of ions, the process of ionization in metals and non-metals, and the creation of ionic compounds through electron transfer. It describes the lattice structure of ionic compounds and their properties, such as high melting and boiling points and electrical conductivity. Additionally, it includes tips for drawing dot-and-cross diagrams to represent ionic bonds.

Uploaded by

ayesha.memon2046
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cambridge O Level Chemistry Your notes

2.4 Ions & Ionic Bonds


Contents
Ions & Ionic Bonds
Ionic Bonds & Lattice Structure
Properties of Ionic Compounds

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Ions & Ionic Bonds


Your notes
The Formation of Ions
An ion is an electrically charged atom or group of atoms formed by the loss or gain of electrons
An atom will lose or gain electrons to become more stable
The loss or gain of electrons takes place to gain a full outer shell of electrons which is a more stable
arrangement of electrons
The electronic configuration of an ion will be the same as that of a noble gas – such as helium, neon and
argon

Formation of positively charged sodium ion

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Your notes

Formation of negatively charged chloride ion


Ionisation of metals and non-metals
Metals: all metals can lose electrons to other atoms to become positively charged ions, known as
cations
Non-metals: all non-metals can gain electrons from other atoms to become negatively charged ions,
known as anions

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The Formation of Ionic Bonds


Ionic compounds are formed when metal atoms react with non-metal atoms Your notes
Metal atoms lose their outer electrons which the non-metal atoms gain to form positive and negative
ions
The positive and negative ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction between
opposite charges
This force of attraction is known as an ionic bond and they hold ionic compounds together

Dot-and-cross diagrams
Dot and cross diagrams are diagrams that show the arrangement of the outer-shell electrons in
an ionic or covalent compound or element
The electrons are shown as dots and crosses
In a dot and cross diagram:
Only the outer electrons are shown
The charge of the ion is spread evenly which is shown by using brackets
The charge on each ion is written at the top right-hand corner

Electrostatic forces between the positive Na ion and negative Cl ion

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Ionic Bonds & Lattice Structure


Your notes
The Lattice Structure of Ionic Compounds
Lattice structure
Ionic compounds have a giant lattice structure
Lattice structure refers to the arrangement of the atoms of a substance in 3D space
In lattice structures, the atoms are arranged in an ordered and repeating fashion
The lattices formed by ionic compounds consist of a regular arrangement of alternating positive and
negative ions

The lattice structure of NaCl

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Ionic Bonds between Metallic & Non-Metallic Elements


Ionic compounds Your notes
Ionic compounds are formed when metal atoms and non-metal atoms react
The ionic compound has no overall charge
Example: Magnesium Oxide, MgO

Diagram showing the dot-and-cross diagram of magnesium oxide


Explanation
Magnesium is a Group II metal so will lose two outer electrons to another atom to have a full outer shell
of electrons
A positive ion with the charge 2+ is formed
Oxygen is a Group VI non-metal so will need to gain two electrons to have a full outer shell of electrons
Two electrons will be transferred from the outer shell of the magnesium atom to the outer shell of the
oxygen atom
Oxygen atom will gain two electrons to form a negative ion with charge 2-
Magnesium oxide has no overall charge
Formula of ionic compound: MgO

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Exam Tip
Your notes
When drawing dot and cross diagrams, you only need to show the outer shell of electrons. Remember
to draw square brackets and include a charge for each ion. Make sure the overall charge is 0; you may
need to include more than one positive or negative ion to ensure the positive and negative charges
cancel each other out.

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Properties of Ionic Compounds


Your notes
Properties of Ionic Compounds
What are the properties of ionic compounds?
Ionic compounds are usually solid at room temperature
They have high melting and boiling points
Ionic compounds are good conductors of electricity in the molten state or in solution
They are poor conductors in the solid state
Explaining the properties of ionic compounds
Ionic substances have high melting and boiling points due to the presence of strong electrostatic
forces acting between the oppositely charged ions
These forces act in all directions and a lot of energy is required to overcome them
The greater the charge on the ions, the stronger the electrostatic forces and the higher the melting
point will be
For example, magnesium oxide consists of Mg2+ and O2- so will have a higher melting point than
sodium chloride which contains the ions, Na+ and Cl-
For electrical current to flow there must be freely moving charged particles such as electrons or ions
present
Ionic compounds are good conductors of electricity in the molten state or in solution as they have ions
that can move and carry a charge
They are poor conductors in the solid state as the ions are in fixed positions within the lattice and are
unable to move

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