Ionic Bonding Part 1 Edexcel

Ionic Bonding part 1
What is ionic bonding?

For an ionic bond you simply need a positive metal ion and a negative non-metal ion.
electron transfer from metal to non-metal to form positive and negative ions strong
electrostatic attraction between the ions
The classic example is sodium chloride: Na+ and Cl- NaCl
Dot and cross diagrams

The key phrase that you need to remember is transfer of electrons. To form the two ions, electrons are
transferred from the metal to the non-metal.
Start by going to the periodic table to get the electronic configuration of each atom i.e. Na 2,8,1 and Cl
2,8,7. Its easiest to keep it in this GCSE style format.
Below I have drawn all the electrons around each atom but quite often you only need the outer
electrons. The diagram shows Na transferring (giving) and electron to the Cl to form the two ions:
As ions are formed, it is necessary to put brackets around each atom and put the charges on the outside.
It is also good practise to keep the transferred electron, for example, on the Cl above, as a dot.
The Na+ ion: I have left the outer shell empty and in the diagram but you can just remove this as
there is no electrons in it. Remember we are forming full shells.
You can do this for any ionic compound as long as you know how to work out the electronic structure of
the two ions involved. Just remember that the charges on the two ions have to cancel each other out to
give a neutral product.
Magnesium Chloride:
In the above example, magnesium has to lose 2 electrons to form the stable 2,8 configuration, giving
Mg2+.
Chlorine forms a 1- ion by gaining one electron but as the magnesium ion has a 2+ charge, we therefore
need two Cl- ions to balance the 2+ charge.
So magnesium transfers one electron to each of the two chlorines. This then gives us the formula MgCl2.
Ionic Lattice
Another magic phrase that you need is giant ionic lattice.
Ionic compounds adopt a cubic like structure, which is given the name lattice. In ionic terms, this is a
giant structure with an alternating pattern of positive and negative ions).
A lattice just means a massive structure, its not just a couple of repeats like shown above. There are 6.02
x 1023 x 2 ions in one mole of NaCl! So there is going to be a huge number of repeats too.
Properties
Conduction
Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity when solid but do conduct in solution or when molten. This
is simply due to the ions being free to move in solution/molten and can carry the current.
ions must be free
Melting Point/bond strength

Ionic compounds have very high melting points (hundreds of oC), as the electrostatic forces are very
strong. These forces need to be broken when melting or boiling.
size and charge are the important factors
A small ion with a high charge means the charge is more concentrated on the ion and therefore has a
stronger charge stronger attraction. Takes more energy to break the bonds.
Ionic Radius
positive ions are smaller than their atoms and negative ions are larger
Positive ions: has lost the outer shell therefore is smaller immediately and the proton:electron ratio has
increased stronger attraction between nucleus and electrons.
Negative ions: has gained electrons therefore the proton:electron ratio has decreased less attraction
between nucleus and electrons.
Questions often show isoelectronic ions i.e. same number of electrons e.g. N3-, O2-, F-, Na+, Mg2+, Al3+. So
using the theory above, Al3+ is the smallest and N3- is the largest.
Down a group: just as with going down any group, the ions get bigger i.e. adding more shells as you go
down.
Evidence for ions

Migration
An ionic solution is connected to a battery. The positive ions migrate (move) to the negative electrode
and the negative ions to the positive electrode.
If ions are coloured then you will see the colours move.
Cr2O72- orange ions migrate to the positive

electrode. And Cu2+ ions move to the
negative electrode.
Just remember most ions are not coloured, so the colour might only comes from one of the ions!
Coloured positive ions: most transition metals.
Coloured negative ions: dichromate (orange) and manganate (purple). Ions such as groups 1 to 3 and 5 to
7, plus carbonate, hydroxide, sulphate are not coloured.

Ionic Bonding Part 1 Edexcel

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Ionic Bonding Part 1 Edexcel

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Ionic Bonding Part 1 Edexcel

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Ionic Bonding part 1

What is ionic bonding?

The classic example is sodium chloride: Na+ and Cl- NaCl

Dot and cross diagrams

ions must be free

Melting Point/bond strength

size and charge are the important factors

Evidence for ions

Cr2O72- orange ions migrate to the positive

Coloured positive ions: most transition metals.

You might also like