Opposite charges attract
The ionic bond.
Giving an electron away
A sodium atom can give one electron to a chlorine atom.
After the transfer, what do you think holds the sodium and chlorine together?
What this lesson covers
The idea
An ionic bond is the electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions, formed by transfer of electrons, that holds them together.
Giving an electron away
A sodium atom can give one electron to a chlorine atom.
After the transfer, what do you think holds the sodium and chlorine together?
- The attraction between their opposite charges
- A shared pair of electrons
- Nothing holds them
From atoms to NaCl
Press Next step to follow the electron.
Transfer and attraction
The electron moves from one atom to the other, so each atom becomes an ion. Opposite charges attract, and this attraction is the bond.
An ionic bond is the electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions, formed by the transfer of electrons, that holds them together.
Notes
An ionic bond is the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, formed by transfer of electrons. Example: Na⁺ and Cl⁻ in NaCl.
Check yourself
What is an ionic bond?
What happens to a sodium atom when it forms NaCl?
How is an ionic bond formed?
How many valence electrons does sodium transfer to chlorine when NaCl forms?
Answer: 1
Sodium has one valence electron and loses it. Chlorine gains one electron.
- A shared pair of electrons between two atoms. This describes a covalent bond. An ionic bond is the attraction between oppositely charged ions.
- The electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions — correct. Yes!
- The force between two positive ions. Ions of the same charge do not hold together. An ionic bond is between oppositely charged ions.
- It gains an electron and becomes Na⁻. Sodium has one valence electron, which it loses to become stable.
- It shares a pair of electrons with chlorine. In NaCl the electron is transferred, not shared.
- It loses its valence electron and becomes Na⁺ — correct. Yes!
- By the transfer of electrons from one atom to another — correct. Yes!
- By the sharing of a pair of electrons. This is how a covalent bond forms.
- By the splitting of the nucleus. The ionic bond forms by the transfer of electrons, not by changes in the nucleus.