How do ionic compounds usually form?a)By sharing electrons between met...
Ionic compounds typically form when electrons move from metals to non-metals, creating a bond. It's like passing a toy from one friend to another. The metal gives away its electron to the non-metal, making them stick together just like how friends share and play together.
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How do ionic compounds usually form?a)By sharing electrons between met...
Understanding Ionic Compounds
Ionic compounds are formed through a specific process involving the transfer of electrons between atoms. The correct answer to how ionic compounds usually form is option 'B': by transfer of electrons from metals to non-metals.
Key Concepts of Ionic Bonding
- Electron Transfer: Ionic bonding occurs when a metal atom donates one or more of its electrons to a non-metal atom. This transfer creates charged particles known as ions.
- Formation of Ions:
- Cation: When a metal loses electrons, it becomes positively charged and is called a cation.
- Anion: When a non-metal gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged and is called an anion.
Example of Ionic Bonding
- Sodium Chloride (NaCl):
- Sodium (Na), a metal, has one electron in its outer shell. It transfers this electron to chlorine (Cl), a non-metal, which has seven electrons in its outer shell.
- After the transfer, sodium becomes Na+ (cation) and chlorine becomes Cl- (anion).
- The oppositely charged ions attract each other, forming the ionic compound NaCl.
Characteristics of Ionic Compounds
- High Melting and Boiling Points: The strong electrostatic forces between the cations and anions require significant energy to break.
- Electrical Conductivity: Ionic compounds conduct electricity when dissolved in water or melted, as the ions are free to move.
By understanding these principles, one can appreciate the nature of ionic compounds and their formation through the transfer of electrons from metals to non-metals.