The Chemical Bond

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The Chemical Bond

Ionic Bonds

An ionic bond is an electrical attraction between two oppositely charged atoms or groups of atoms. Normally, atoms are neutral and have NO CHARGE. However, in order to gain stability they will lose their neutrality by either losing one or more of it's outermost electrons so it will become a positive ion (cation) or they will gain one or more electrons so they will become a negative ion (anion). Elements that are described, as "metallic" tend to lose electrons and elements that are known as "non-metallic" tend to gain electrons. Once this has happened, then the resulting charged atoms will attract each other. That electrical attraction between two oppositely charged ions is referred to as an ionic bond. Most salts are ionic. Any metal will merge chemically with any non-metal to form ionic bonds that hold the molecule together.

Polarity of the Ionic Bond

Because the bonding electrons are literally under the domain of the non-metal in an ionic bond, the bond is said to be polar. Polar bonds generate a dipole moment. A dipole moment is an electrical force that is generated because of the unequal distribution of the bonding electrons