Describe how a metal and a nonmetal can combine by forming an ionic bond.?
Answers:
The metal gives away electrons which is then received by the non-metal. The metal give away to reduce themselves to a stable configuration (8 valence electrons) while the non-metal receives it to lift up itself to stability.
They don't share electrons like in covalent bonds because any atom has a strong pull against the other and that`s why, cannot share.
A metal will give up an electron and become positivity charged.
A non-metal will gain an electron and become negatively charged.
They will go together approaching magnets i guess.
An example of this would be table salt. Sodium is a metal and Chlorine is a non-metal. When sodium gives it's merely valence electron to chlorine, chlorine's outer energy level is full and sodium is positive, chlorine is unenthusiastic. They bond.
Say you have an atom of Sodium (Na), which is a metal, and Chlorine (Cl), which is a nonmetal. Na has 11 protons and electrons, and Cl have 17 of each. Electrons in an atom occupy a mixture of "shells." These shells can hold a certain amount of electrons. For these two elements, the shells can hold the following amount of electrons:
1st shell: 2
2nd shell: 8
3rd shell: 8
Atoms want to have their outermost shell complete. By doing simple math, it can be concluded that Na has 1 electron in its outermost (3rd) shell, and Cl have 7. It is easier for Na to lose an electron to fill all of its shells instead of attainment 7. Conversely, it is easier for Cl to gain an electron than lose 7. Cl essentially "takes" an electron from Na. Upon doing this, both atoms have a full outermost shell and are happy. However, when Na loses its electron, it become an ion with a positive charge (as it has more protons than electrons). When Cl gain an electron, it becomes a negative ion (as it have more electrons than protons). Since opposite charges attract, the two atoms are attracted to each other, forming an ionic bond. This forms NaCl (commonly prearranged as table salt).
well, ionic substances are formed when an atom that loses electrons relatively easily react with an atom that has a large affinity for electrons. In other words, an ionic compound results when a metal reacts with a nonmetal.
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