The Ionic Bond

Part of the Structure and Bonding section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 3 of 49.

A metal atom gives electrons to a non-metal atom. The positive and negative ions attract: that pull is the ionic bond.

A sodium ion with shells 2, 8 beside a chloride ion with shells 2, 8, 8

The ions of sodium chloride: both have full shells

An ion's outer electrons are drawn as dots in square brackets, the charge outside. Cl⁻ has eight dots in four pairs.

A chloride ion drawn as Cl with four pairs of dots, in square brackets with a minus charge

The chloride ion: eight outer electrons, a charge of 1−

A positive ion such as Na⁺ or Mg²⁺ has lost its outer electrons, so it is drawn with no dots.

Challenge

Draw the chloride ion of sodium chloride as an electron-dot ion: give it its outer electrons.

Try it yourself

Work it out on the board

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Structure and Bonding

1Ionic Bonding

4Polarity

7Functional Groups

2Covalent Bonds

5Forces Between Molecules

8Practice Problems

3Shapes of Molecules

6Metals and Giant Structures