Ionic Bonding

● An ionic bond is formed when a metal combines with a non-metal to

produce a compound.
● The compound formed is called an ionic compound.
Metal + Non-metal → Ionic compound
● The ionic bond is formed through the transfer of electrons from the metal
atoms to the non-metal atoms.
● The metal atoms lose their valence (outer) electrons to achieve a full
outer shell. Thus, positively-charged ions are formed.

● The non-metal atoms accept the electrons donated by the metal atoms to
achieve a full outer shell. Thus, negatively-charged ions are formed.

● The positively-charged ions and negatively-charged ions are then attracted

to each other by strong (electrostatic) forces. The oppositely charged
ions are closely-packed in an orderly manner (crystal lattice) forming an
ionic compound.
● The strong electrostatic forces of attraction between the
oppositely-charged ions is called an ionic bond.
● Figure shows a chart that summarises the formation of an ionic bond from a
metal atom and non-metal atom.

● Examples of ionic compounds:

Formation of Ions
● In an atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons.
Hence, the atom is neutral.
● An ion is a charged particle formed when an atom loses or accepts
electrons.
● An ion is a charged particle because the number of protons is not equal to
the number of electrons.
● An atom that loses electrons from its valence shell forms a positive ion
called cation. The cation is positively-charged because it has more
protons than electrons.
● An atom that accepts electrons into its valence shell forms a negative ion
called anion. The anion is negatively-charged because it has more
electrons than protons.
Formation of cations by Group 1 elements:

● Metal atoms of Group 1 elements have one valence electron. It is easier

for each of these atoms to lose one electron than to gain seven electrons
to achieve a full outer shell.As a result, a Group 1 metal atom loses one
valence electron to form a cation with a charge of +1.
● Example: Lithium
● A lithium atom has an electron arrangement of 2.1.
● It has one valence electron.
● In bond formation, each lithium atom loses one valence
electron to achieve a full shell. Hence, a lithium ion, Li+ is
formed.

● The figure below shows the formation of a lithium ion from a

lithium atom:

Formation of cations by Group 2 elements:

● Metal atoms of Group 2 elements have two valence electrons. It is easier

for each of these atoms to lose two electrons than to gain six electrons.
 As a result, a Group 2 metal atom loses two valence electrons to form a
cation with a charge of +2.
● Example: Calcium
● A calcium atom has an electron arrangement of 2.8.8.2.
● It has two valence electrons.
● Thus, each calcium atom loses two valence electrons to
achieve a full shell. Hence, a calcium ion, Ca2+ is formed.

● The figure below shows the formation of a calcium ion from a

calcium atom:

Formation of cations by Group 3 elements:

● Metal atoms of Group 3 elements have three valence electrons.

● In order to achieve a full shell, each of the Group 3 metal atoms loses all
the three valence electrons to form a cation with a charge of +3.
● Example: Aluminium
● An aluminium atom has an electron arrangement of 2.8.3.
● It has three valence electrons.
 ● Thus, each aluminium atom loses three valence
electrons.Hence, an aluminium ion, Al 3+ is formed.

● The figure below shows the formation of an aluminium ion from

an aluminum atom:

Changes in the number of subatomic particles during the formation of cations:

When an atom of a metal changes to a cation:
● the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus remains unchanged.
● only the number of electrons decreases.
● the electron arrangement changes.
● the number of protons (total positive charge) is more than the number of
electrons (total negative charge) in the cation formed.
Formation of anions by Group 5 elements:

● Non-metal atoms of Group 5 elements have five valence electrons.

● It is easier for each of these atoms to accept three electrons than to lose
five electrons to achieve a full shell. As a result, a Group 5 non-metal atom
accepts three electrons into its valence shell to form an anion with a
charge of -3.
● Example: Nitrogen
● A nitrogen atom has an electron arrangement of 2,5.
● It has five valence electrons.
● In bond formation, each nitrogen atom gains three electrons.
Hence, a nitride ion, N3- is formed.

● The figure below shows the formation of a nitride ion from a

nitrogen atom:
Formation of anions by Group 6 elements:

● Non-metal atoms of Group 6 elements have six valence electrons.

● It is easier for each of these atoms to accept two electrons than to lose
six electrons. Hence a Group 6 non-metal atom accepts two electrons
into its valence shell to form an anion with a charge of -2.
● Example: Sulphur
● A sulphur atom has an electron arrangement of 2.8.6.
● It has six valence electrons.
● Hence, each sulphur atom accepts two electrons into its
valence shell. Thus, a sulphide ion, S2- is formed.

Formation of anions by Group 7 elements:

● Non-metal atoms of Group 7 elements have seven valence electrons.

● It is easier for each of these atoms to accept one electron than to lose
seven electrons. Hence, a Group 7 non-metal atom accepts one electron
into its valence shell to form an anion with a charge of -1.
● Example: Chlorine
 ● A chlorine atom has an electron arrangement of 2.8.7.
● It has seven valence electrons.
● In bond formation, each chlorine atom accepts one electron
into the valence shell. Thus, a chloride ion, Cl– is formed.

● The figure below shows the formation of a chloride ion from a

chlorine atom:

Changes in the number of subatomic particles during the formation of anions

When an atom of a non-metal changes to an anion:
● the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus remains unchanged.
● only the number of electrons increases.
● the electron arrangement changes to achieve a stable noble gas electron
arrangement.
● the number of electrons (total negative charge) is more than the number
of protons (total positive charge) in the anion formed.