Ionic Bonds
Definition
Ionic bonds are chemical bonds formed through the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions (cations and anions).
Analogy
Consider ionic bonds like magnets. One end of a magnet has a positive charge while other has negative. When brought close together, they stick because opposite charges attract - just like in ionic bonds.
Related terms
Ions: These are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost one or more electrons, giving them a positive or negative charge.
Salt (NaCl): This is a common example of an ionic compound formed by the ionic bonding of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions.
Crystal Lattice: This is a structure formed by repeating patterns of ions in an ionic compound, held together by ionic bonds.
"Ionic Bonds" appears in:
Study guides (4)
Practice Questions (1)
- How do Lewis Dot Diagrams represent ionic bonds?
Resources
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