Structure and Bonding

IONIC BOND
5.1 . explain the formation of ionic bonds;
5.2. predict the likelihood of an atom forming
an ionic bond based on atomic structure;
5.3. write formulae to represent ions;
5.5. describe ionic crystals;
5.7. relate structure of sodium chloride to their
properties and uses.
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1
 Introduction
 In an atom, the number of electrons is equal to the
number of protons, so an atom is electrically neutral.
 Atoms can lose or gain electrons to form charged
particles called ions.
 Atoms form ions so that they can have the stable
electronic structure of a noble gas such as helium, neon
or argon.
He - 2
Ne – 2, 8
Ar – 2, 8, 8
Kr – 2, 8, 18, 8
The Electronic Structure of Noble Gases

 The outer shell of 8 electrons is called an octet structure and

it makes the atom very stable.
 Atoms of other elements become stable like the noble gases
by losing or gaining electrons or by sharing electrons.
 They achieve this by forming bonds with other atoms.
 There are three types of intra-molecular bonding.
 Bonding and structure determine the physical properties of a
substance, e.g. density, melting point, solubility and
conductivity.
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 Types of Bonds

Ionic Bond Covalent Bond Metallic Bond

Transfer of Electrons Sharing of Electrons Sea of free Electrons

Between Metal + Non-metal Between Non-metals Between Metals

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 WHAT IS AN ION?
•An ION is an electrically charge particle formed when an atom
gains or loses electrons.
•Ions are charge atoms and molecules.
•The charge of the ion is also called its valency.
Cations are
positive ions that
result when a metal
loses electrons

Anions are
negative ions that
result when a non-
metal gains
electrons
 THE FORMATION OF IONS

•Positive ions are formed when an atom loses one or more electrons.
For example:
Mg → Mg2+ + 2e-
•Negative ions are formed when an atom gains one or more electrons.
For example:
O + 2e- → O2-
•The charge on the ion depends on the number of electrons lost or gain.
•For most metal ions the number of positive charges is the same as the
group number. For example, aluminium is in Group III, so its ion is Al 3+.
•For most non-metal ions, the negative charge is eight minus the group
number. For example, phospurus is in Group V, so the phosphide ion is
P3-.

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 FORMING THE NOBLE GAS
CONFIGURATION

• When metals combine with non-metals, the electrons in the outer shell
of the metal atoms are transferred completely to the non-metal atoms.
• Each non-metal atoms usually gains enough electrons to fill its outer
shell.
• Each metal atoms usually loses its outer shell electrons.
• The ions formed (both metal and non-metal) end up with the electron
arrangement of the nearest noble gas (noble gas configuration).
• The strong force of attraction between the oppositely charged ions
results in an ionic bond

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 Formation of a Metal Ion
 When sodium reacts with chlorine, the sodium atom loses an
electron to become a positively charged sodium ion:

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 Formation of a Non-metal Ion

 The chlorine atom gains an electron to become a

negatively charged chloride ion:

Chloride ion Cl- (2, 8, 8 )

 Formation of an Ionic Bonding

 The positive sodium ion and the negative chloride ion then
attract each other to form sodium chloride.

Sodium chloride is called an ionic compound.

 A SIMPLE DIAGRAM FOR IONIC BONDING

Dot-and-cross diagrams help us to keep track of where the

electrons have come from when an ionic bond is formed. Dot-
and-cross diagram shows:
• the outer electron shells only.
• the charge of the ion at the top right outside square
brackets. 11
OTHER IONIC COMPOUND
 IONIC BONDS are the attractive forces that hold oppositely
charged ions together in electrovalent compounds.

• Ionic bonding takes place between metal and non-metal

atoms. It involves the transfer of electrons

• The positive ions are formed from metals (usually) and

negative ions are usually formed from non-metals.

• The smallest part of an ionic compound is known as the

FORMULA UNIT.
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Use dot-and-cross diagram to represent the formation of calcium
chloride:

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 Ionic Crystals

The regular structure of a crystal is due to the regular packing of

the particles in the crystal. A regularly repeating arrangement of
ions, atoms or molecules is called a CRYSTAL LATTICE . In ionic
lattices there is usually a three-dimensional arrangement of
alternating positive and negative ions. This is sometimes called a
giant ionic structure.
In an ionic lattice:
• the electrostatic attractive forces between the positive and
negative ions act in all directions.
• these forces are very strong. It takes a lot of energy to
overcome them.
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 Structure of Ionic Compounds:
Giant Ionic Lattice

SODIUM CHLORIDE
CRYSTAL

Ionic bonding generally results in crystalline solids. In a crystal

of NaCl, each Na+ is surrounded by 6 Cl-, and each Cl- is
surrounded by 6 Na+. This is called 6,6 coordination. A
repeating cubical structure is formed. 16
 PROPERTIES OF IONIC COMPOUNDS
Some physical properties of ionic compounds are:
They have high melting point due to the very strong attractive forces
between the large number of positive and negative ions acting in all
directions. It needs a lot of energy to overcome these forces to melt the
solid.
They are soluble in water. When added to water, the water molecules
form weak bonds with the ions on the surface of the crystal. The forces
between the ions within the crystals are weakened and the ions
eventually become surrounded by water molecules. The total forces of
attraction between the water molecules and the ions are greater than
the forces of attraction between the positive and negative ions. So the
crystal dissolves.
They are hard. It takes a lot of energy to scratch the surface. This is
because the strong attractive forces keep the ions together. 17
 PROPERTIES OF IONIC COMPOUNDS
Some physical properties of ionic compounds are:
They are brittle. The crystals split apart when hit in the same direction
as the layers of ions. When the layers move slightly, similarly charged
ions come close to each other. The large repulsive forces cause the
crystal to split.
They do not dissolve in non-polar organic solvents, because either
bonds are not formed between the organic solvent and the ions or the
bonds are too weak.
They conduct electricity only when dissolved or molten. They do not
conduct electricity when solid. This is because the ions are not free to
move. For a substance to be able to conduct electricity there must be a
movement of charged particles. When ionic compounds are molten or
dissolved they conduct electricity because the ions are free to move.
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 USES OF IONIC COMPOUNDS
The solubility of sodium chloride makes it useful for
 effective preservative that acts in several ways. It dehydrates
microbial cells by osmosis, killing microorganisms and
enzymes. It also provides the Cl- ion, which is toxic to
microorganisms. Salt has the added advantage of adding
flavour and nutritive value to food.
 manufacturing chlorine and sodium hydroxide by electrolysis of
its aqueous solution.
 spreading on roads in cold countries to reduce the formation of
ice.
The high melting point of ionic compounds, such as magnesium
oxide, makes them useful for furnace lining.
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 Quick check 1

1. Ionic bonds are formed between a ______ and a _____.

2. A metal atom ______ an electron to form a _______ ion
while a non-metal ______ an electron to become a
________ ion.
3. The two oppositely charged ions ________ each other to
form an ______ compound.
4. An ionic bond is formed by the _________ of _______.
5. (a) Is aluminium oxide an ionic or covalent compound?
(b) State the formula of aluminium oxide.
Solution
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 Solution to Quick check 1

1. Ionic bonds are formed between a metal and a non-

metal.
2. A metal atom loses an electron to form a positive ion
while a non-metal gains an electron to become a
negative ion.
3. The two oppositely charged ions attract each other to
form an ionic compound.
4. Ionic bond is formed by the transfer of electrons.
5. (a) Aluminium oxide is an ionic compound.
(b) Al2O3
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1. Use dot and cross diagrams to show the bonding between the
atoms of:
i. Magnesium and fluorine.
ii. Sodium and fluorine
iii. Sodium and oxygen.
a. Write the chemical formula of magnesium sulphide and
magnesium fluoride.

2. Use the letters X and Y to answer the following questions.

19
9 X 39
19Y
a. Draw diagrams to show the structures of X and Y.
b. Draw a diagram to show how X and Y combine.
c. Name the type of bonding which took place between X and
Y
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3. a. Calculate the relative atomic mass of copper given that it is a
mixture of two naturally occurring isotopes and 63Cu and 65Cu,
which exist in a ratio of 7 to 3.
b. Fill in the missing numbers in the table bellow.
ION/ MASS ATOMIC NUMBER OF NUMBER OF
ATOM NUMBER NUMBER NEUTRONS ELECTRONS
X 10 10 10
Y+ 23 11
Z2- 34 18

c. Give the formula of ONE cation and ONE anion, which have the
same number of electrons as argon.
d. What is the formula of the chloride of Y+?
4. A boy got some copper chloride solution on his shirt. Which will
dissolve the green stain better, water or alcohol?
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