

Ionic compounds have high melting/boiling point due to the strong electrostatic forces of attraction, which require a large amount of heat energy to overcome.covalent bonds may be stronger than the attraction between two ions, but in ionic compounds there are attractions in all directions.


Chlorine atoms gain the electrons from the sodium atoms to form negatively charged chloride ions (Cl -). First, sodium atoms (Na) oxidize and lose an electron to form positively charged sodium ions (Na +). This occurs, for example, when sodium and chlorine join to form common table salt, NaCl. A non-metal atom becomes a negative anion as it gains electron(s). A maximum of three electrons can be transferred in the process.Ī metal atom becomes a positive cation because it loses electron(s). The greater the difference in charge between the metal and non-metal ion, the stronger the ionic bond. This happens after a metal atom loses one or more of its electrons to the non-metal atom. This occurs when charged atoms ( ions) attract. An ionic bond is the electrostatic forces of attraction between a non-metal and a metal ion in a giant ionic crystal lattice.
