Pre-AICE Ions and Ionic Bonding

Though the periodic table has 118 elements listed, there are obviously more substances in
nature than those 118 pure elements. This is because atoms can react with one another to
form new substances called compounds. When two or more atoms chemically bond
together, the resulting compound is unique both chemically and physically from its parent
atoms.

In 1916, the American chemist Gilbert Newton Lewis proposed that

compounds are formed when electrons move between atoms of different
elements. Atoms will transfer or share electrons to forms chemical
bonds, which are the attractive forces that hold two or more atoms
together.

Ionic Bonding
In ionic bonding, electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another. In the
process of either losing or gaining negatively charged electrons, the reacting atoms form ions.
The oppositely charged ions are attracted to each other by electrostatic forces, which are the
basis of the ionic bond.

We have already learned that electrons of an atom travel around the

nucleus of the atom in electrons energy levels and orbitals. We have
also learned that there is the same number of protons in an atom as
there are electrons. The electrons are negatively charged,
and the protons are positively charged. This means in their
natural state, the atoms have the same number of positive
charges as negative charges, and the atom has an overall
neutral charge. For example, carbon has 6 protons and 6
electrons so it has an overall charge of zero.

Lewis observed that many elements are most stable when they contain eight
electrons in their outer energy level. Atoms that have only partially filled s and
p orbitals are unstable. To become more stable, atoms will attempt to achieve a
Noble Gas configuration. Remember, the Noble Gases have full or complete s
and p orbitals. Regardless of the primary energy level they’re in, the Noble
Gases all have 2 electrons in the s orbital and 6 in the p orbital for a total of 8
electrons.

This number seems to be the most stable configuration which

explains why Noble Gases do not readily bond with other
elements. This configuration is called an octet.
 Forming Ions
To achieve the noble gas’s configuration (some level s 2p6), atoms have
to gain or lose electrons. When atoms gain or lose electrons it changes
the balance of
the protons and
electrons,
Gained an
and the atom itself
outer
becomes
electron a
charged
particle called
an 17 + 17+ ion. Ions are
17 - 18 - atoms or
groups of atoms that
have a positive or negative charge. When electrons are lost the atom
Ion Symbols
When an ion is formed, it is written as the elemental symbol with the
ionic charge in the upper right hand corner.

Ex: Na loses 1 electron to become Na+1

Cl gains 1 electron to become Cl -1

The ionic charge number represents the number of electrons involved

and the charge sign tells whether the electrons have been gained or lost.
A positive sign means the atom lost electrons and is now a positive ion.
A negative sign means the atom gained electrons and is now a negative
ion.
Naming Ions

Cations do not change

their names. The sodium
atom loses an electron to
form the sodium ion.
Anions however, change
the ending of their name
to ide. The chlorine atom gains an electron to form the chloride ion.

Metals generally form cations (positive ions) and nonmetals generally

form anions (negative ions).

Transition metals can have multiple charges. Their names reflect the
charge of the ion with the addition of a roman numeral after the name.

Ion # Name(s)
Elemen Symbol Gained
t or Lost

Cl

Ba

Fe

Cu

Ca

Al