Ionic compounds and ionic bonding

Atoms bond with each other in order to gain a stable arrangement of outer-shell electrons, like the atoms of
Group 0. In other words, they bond in order to gain 8 electrons in their outer shell (or 2, if they have only one
shell).

When metals react with non-metals, electrons are transferred from the metal atoms to the nonmetal atoms, forming ions. The resulting compound is called anionic compound. Consider
reactions between metals and non-metals, for example,

sodium + chlorine sodium chloride

magnesium + oxygen magnesium oxide
calcium + chlorine calcium chloride
In each of these reactions, the metal atoms give electrons to the non-metal atoms. The metal
atoms become positive ions and the non-metal atoms become negative ions.
There is a strong electrostatic force of attraction between these oppositely charged ions, called
an ionic bond.
Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points.
Dot-and-cross diagrams
You need to be able to draw dot-and-cross diagrams to show the ions in some common ionic
compounds.

Magnesium Fluoride
Magnesium fluoride MgF2 is an ionic compound. The magnesium atom gives up two electrons to
form a magnesium ion Mg2+. The two electrons are transferred to two fluorine atoms to form two
fluoride ions F-. The magnesium fluoride has the formula MgF2. Each unit of magnesium
fluoride consists of one magnesium ion and two fluoride ions.

Try these
1. sodium oxide (Na2O)
2. magnesium chloride (MgCl2)
3. aluminum chloride (AlCl3)

covalent bond

In a covalent bond, pairs of electrons are shared between neighboring atoms. This
occurs between nonmetal atoms the type of bond form is called a
covalent bond. If only one pair of electrons is shared, then it is a single covalent
bond. Double and triple covalent bonds are possible when two or three pairs of
electrons are shared between neighboring atoms.
a single bond involves two atoms sharing one electron pair
-a double bond involves two atoms sharing two pairs of electrons
-a triple bond involves two atoms sharing three electron pairs

only the outer electrons are shown for simplicity.

Single covalent bond

This is the sharing between two atoms of two electrons (one from each
atom/ a pair of electron). Therefore one pair of electrons must be shared between
the two atoms. A single covalent bond will be formed.

Hydrogen chloride

Hydrogen chloride

The hydrogen has a helium structure, and the chlorine an argon structure.

For example, two chlorine atoms could both achieve stable structures by
sharing their single unpaired electron as in the diagram.

One pair of single bond.

Methane is four pairs of single bonds
Water two pairs of single bond
Ammonia three pairs of single bonds

Hydrogen atoms and chlorine atoms can each form one covalent bond. One pair
of electrons is shared in a hydrogen chloride molecule (HCl).

Hydrogen atoms can each form one covalent bond, while oxygen atoms can each form
two covalent bonds. Two pairs of electrons are shared in a water molecule (H2O).

Hydrogen atoms can each form one covalent bond, while nitrogen atoms can each form
three covalent bonds. Three pairs of electrons are shared in an ammonia molecule (NH3).

Hydrogen atoms can each form one covalent bond, while carbon atoms can each form
four covalent bonds. Four pairs of electrons are shared in a methane molecule (CH4).

Try ammonia (NH3)

Double covalent bond
This is the sharing between two atoms of four electrons (two from
each atom/ two pair of electron) Therefore two pairs of electrons must be shared
between the two oxygen atoms so that both outermost energy levels are full. A double
bond is formed.

Oxygen molecule

sulphur dioxide

nitrogen dioxide

Two oxygen atoms can both achieve stable structures by sharing two pairs of
cnelectrons

In sulphur dioxide The three atoms (2 oxygen and 1 sulphur) will share a total of eight valence
electrons, the equivalent of two double bonds.

triple covalent bond

This is the sharing between two atoms of sixelectrons (three from each
atom/ two pair of electron) Therefore three pairs of electrons must be shared
between the four atoms involved. Three single covalent bonds will be formed.

carbon
monoxide (CO)

Oxygen molecule (o2)

Hydrogen chloride (hcl)
Hydrogen sulphide (h2S
Ethene (c2h4)

Class work

COMPOUND
NaCl
MgCl2
Cl2
N2
HC1
H2O
C02

BOND TYPE

diagram