NAME :

GRADE :
:

Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry

Topic 1: Principles of chemistry

Ionic bonding

Notes
understand how ions are formed by electron loss or gain

● Ions – Atoms that have lost or gained electron/electrons.

● Metal reacting with a nonmetal: electrons in the outer shell of the metal
atom are transferred
o Metal atoms lose electrons to become positively charged ions
o Nonmetal atoms gain electrons to become negatively charged ions
● Cation = positive ion (+ → ca+ion)
● Anion = negative ion (Negative → aNion)

(OH-),know
1.38 ammonium (NH +of
the charges ), carbonate
these ions:(CO
2-)
metals , nitrate (NO1,-),2sulfate
in Groups and 3,(SO )
2-

nonmetals
+
in Groups 5, 6 and 7, Ag
4
, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+,3Pb2+, Zn2+, hydrogen
3
(H+), hydroxide
4
● group 1 → +1
● group 2 → +2
● group 3 → +3
● group 5 → -3
● group 6 → -2
● group 7 → -1
● the rest above just need to be learnt

write formulae for compounds formed between the ions listed above
● compounds have no overall charge, therefore charges of ions must cancel
out

draw dot-and-cross diagrams to show the formation of ionic compounds by

electron transfer, limited to combinations of elements from Groups 1, 2, 3 and
5, 6, 7 only outer electrons need to be shown

● ionic compounds are formed when a metal and nonmetal

react.
● Ionic bonds are formed by the transfer of electrons from the
outer shell of the metal to the outer shell of the nonmetal.
● The metal therefore forms a positive ion and the nonmetal forms a
negative ion
understand ionic bonding in terms of electrostatic attractions

● A giant structure of ions = ionic compound

● Held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction between
oppositely charged ions
● The forces act in all directions in the lattice, and this is called ionic bonding.

An example is sodium chloride (salt):

Na+ (small blue particles) and Cl- (larger green ones)

understand why compounds with giant ionic lattices have high melting and
boiling points

● Strong electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions

● Requires a lot of energy to overcome these forces of attraction
● Therefore, the compounds have high melting and boiling points

know that ionic compounds do not conduct electricity when solid, but do
conduct electricity when molten and in aqueous solution

● As a solid, the ions are in fixed positions so can’t conduct electricity

● when molten or in aqueous solution the ions are free to move carrying
charge and conducting electricity
 WORKSHEET 2023- 2024
Name: Date:

Grade: Subject: Chemistry

1. Magnesium and chlorine react together to form magnesium chloride, a

compound with ionic bonding. The equation for the reaction is
Mg + Cl2 MgCl2
(i) State what is meant by the term ionic bonding.
A. ionic compounds are formed when a metal and nonmetal react.
Ionic bonds are formed by the transfer of electrons from the
outer shell of the metal to the outer shell of the nonmetal.
The metal therefore forms a positive ion and the nonmetal forms a
negative ion

(ii) Describe how magnesium atoms and chlorine atoms form magnesium ions and
chloride ions.

A. It happens when magnesium atom forms one ion and chlorine forms 2 ions.
This is because magnesium is a metal and chlorine is a nonmetal both
elements gets attracted to each other and ionic bonding happens.

(iii) Draw a diagram to represent the electronic configurations of each of the ions in
magnesium chloride. Show the charge on each ion.
(iv) Explain why magnesium chloride has a high melting point.
A. They have high melting points due to the strong electrostatic forces of
attractions between the ions.
2. When lithium is burned in air, the two compounds lithium oxide (Li2O) and
lithium nitride (Li3 N) are formed. Both compounds are ionic and their ions can
be represented by dot and cross diagrams.
The dot and cross diagram for the ions in lithium oxide is

(a) Draw a dot and cross diagram for the ions in lithium nitride.

(b) The chemical equation for the reaction between lithium and oxygen is
4Li + O2 2Li2 O
Write a chemical equation for the reaction between lithium and nitrogen.

A. 6Li+N2→2Li3N.

(d) Solid lithium nitride conducts electricity and is used in batteries.

Why would you expect solid lithium nitride not to conduct electricity?
 A. Because the ions of Solid Lithium Nitride are tightly packed and cannot
move. Therefore, it will not be able to conduct electricity

3. Sodium (Na) and sodium chloride (NaCl) both have lattice structures. Their
melting points are shown in the table.
(a) Complete the table by stating the type of lattice structure in sodium chloride.

Giant Ionic
(b) Explain why sodium and sodium chloride have different melting points. In your
answer you should refer to the types of particle the types of forces between the
particles in each substance

A. Sodium: - Have positive ions and delocalized electrons.

Also have strong electrostatic forces of attraction between ions and the electrons.
Sodium Chloride: - Have both positive and negative ions.
Also have strong electrostatic forces of attraction between positive charged ions.
In conclusion, Sodium electrostatic forces of attraction are weaker than sodium
chloride.
(e) Sodium chloride can also be made by reacting sodium with chlorine gas. Draw
a dot and cross diagram to show the arrangement of the electrons in each of the
ions in sodium chloride. Show the charge on each ion. Show only the outer
electrons.