Sodium chloride is an ionic compound.

The sodium ion & chloride ion are held together by an

electrostatic force called ionic bond.
An ionic bond is formed between a metal atom & a
non-metal atom.
The sodium atom (2.8.1) donates 1 electron to achieve the stable
octet arrangement & form a sodium ion (2.8)
Na Na
+
+ e
The chlorine atom (2.8.7) receives 1 electron to achieve the stable
octet arrangement & form a chloride ion (2.8.8)
Cl + e Cl
-
The sodium ion (Na
+
) & chloride ion (Cl
-
) attract each other by
strong electrostatic force and form an ionic bond.
The magnesium atom (2.8.2) donates 2 electrons to achieve the
stable octet arrangement & forms a magnesium ion (2.8)
Mg Mg
2+
+ 2e
The oxygen atom (2.6) receives 2 electrons to achieve the stable
octet & forms an oxide ion (2.8)
O + 2e O
2-
The magnesium ion (Mg
2+
) and oxide ion (O
2-
)
attract each other by strong electrostatic force &
form an ionic bond.
The calcium atom (2.8.8.2)
donates 2 electrons to achieve
the stable octet & forms a
magnesium ion (2.8.8)
Ca Ca
2+
+ 2e
Two chlorine atoms (2.8.7)
receive 1 electron each to
achieve the stable octet &
form two chloride ions (2.8.8)
2Cl + 2e 2Cl
-
The calcium ion (Ca
2+
) & two chloride ions (2Cl
-
) attract each
other by strong electrostatic force & form two ionic bonds.
Ionic bond
An ionic compound is formed by the complete transfer of the
valence electrons from a metal atom to a non-metal atom. The
ions formed achieved octet electron arrangement.
Metal atoms in Group 1 to Group 3 lose electrons to non-metal
atoms in Group 15 to Group 17.
An ionic bond forms when :
- A metal atom loses one or more electrons to form a positive ion
with an octet electron arrangement.
- A non-metal atom gains sufficient electrons from the metal
atom to form a negative ion with an octet electron arrangement.
- The oppositely charged ions attract each other to form an
ionic compound. Thus the strong electrostatic attraction force
between the ions forms the bond.