Section: STEM · ChemistryDifficulty: Easy
Ionic Bond
USUK
A chemical bond formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
Also: electrostatic bond
Definition
An ionic bond is a type of chemical bond formed when one atom transfers one or more electrons to another atom, creating oppositely charged ions that attract each other electrostatically. Ionic bonds typically form between metals and nonmetals, and the resulting ionic compounds usually form crystalline solid structures with high melting points. Common examples include sodium chloride (table salt) and calcium carbonate.
Example
“When sodium metal reacts with chlorine gas, each sodium atom donates one electron to a chlorine atom, forming Na+ and Cl- ions that attract each other and crystallize into the table salt we use every day.”
Synonyms
- electrostatic bond
- salt bond
- electron-transfer bond
Antonyms / Opposites
- covalent bond
- nonpolar bond
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Related Terms
- Covalent Bond
- Electronegativity
- Lattice Energy
- Metallic Bond