Electron Transfer Party
Form ionic bonds by giving and taking
What this lesson covers
Why it matters
Imagine a metal atom handing over its outer electron to a non-metal like a gift. The metal becomes positive, the non-metal negative, and they snap together.
Predict first
Why does sodium give an electron to chlorine?
Metals lose electrons to become stable cations; non-metals gain them to become stable anions.
- Sodium is larger than chlorine
- Both want to achieve a stable octet by transferring electrons — correct
- Chlorine is heavier than sodium
- They share the electron equally
What you do
Criss-cross the valencies of each metal and non-metal to build NaCl, MgO and CaCl₂. The metal hands over its outer electrons, the non-metal takes them — the charges must cancel exactly.
Check yourself
In the formation of NaCl, what happens to the sodium atom?
Sodium (Group 1) has 1 valence electron. It loses this electron to achieve the stable electron configuration of Neon, forming a +1 cation.
Why do Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions stick together?
Ionic bonding is the strong electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions.
What is the formula for magnesium oxide?
Magnesium forms Mg²⁺ and Oxygen forms O²⁻. The charges balance in a 1:1 ratio, so the formula is MgO.
- It gains an electron and becomes Na⁻
- It loses an electron and becomes Na⁺ — correct
- It shares an electron with chlorine
- It remains neutral
- Magnetic attraction between nuclei
- Electrostatic attraction between opposite charges — correct
- They are glued by a third element
- They share a pair of electrons
- MgO — correct
- MgO₂
- Mg₂O
- Mg₂O₂