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Ionic bonds - ionic compounds

Halite commonly known as rock salt, is a type of salt which forms crystals because of its regular ion structure.
Source: Hans-Joachim Engelhardt, Large natural crystal of halite, showing cubic cleavage breaks, licencja: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Link to the lesson

Before you start you should know
  • what chemical compounds are;

  • how to write the electronic configuration of some elements;

  • that atoms can join into molecules.

You will learn
  • explain what an ion, cation, anion are;

  • show how atoms form ions;

  • describe how an ionic bond is formed;

  • compare the properties of ionic and covalent compounds.

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Nagranie dźwiękowe abstraktu.

Comparison of atoms and ions

After accepting or donating one or more electrons, the atoms change their size. Cations have a smaller radius than the atoms from which they are formed, while anions – a larger one.

Task 1

Watch the presentation ‘The formation of a hydrogen chloride molecule’. Write down your observations and concluding remarks.

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Zapisz swoje obserwacje i wnioski.

Ionic bond (ionic structure)

The striving to achieve the electronic configuration of the closest in the periodic table noble gas is the basic cause of chemical bonds formation. Atoms of some elements, in order to achieve the appropriate number of electrons on the last shell, form common electron pairs, others - donate or accept electrons. An example of a chemical compound that can arise from the donation and acceptance of electrons is sodium chloride NaCl i.e. kitchen salt.

The mechanism of ion formation from sodium and chlorine atoms can be described as follows:

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Each of the elemental atoms in sodium chloride achieves the electronic configuration of the nearest in the periodic table of noble gas: sodium cation - neon, chloride anion - argon.

Sodium chloride has other properties than sodium and chlorine, the chemical elements from which it was created. Sodium chloride is made up of sodium cations and chloride anions, which as opposite ions attract each other with electrostatic forces. Such connections in chemical compounds are called ionic bondsionic bond (ionic structure)ionic bonds.

Ionic bond is a type of chemical bond that arises as a result of attracting ions with opposite signs. The chemical compounds in which ionic binding occurs are said to be ionic compounds. Ions with the same charge repel each other, so they can not be next to each other. For this reason, in the ionic compound, cations and anions are arranged alternately. The structure they form is called an ionic crystal. In the ionic compound crystal, each cation is surrounded by anions, and each anion – by cations.

How are ionic compounds constructed?

Ionic compounds are not made up of ions with opposite signs. These ions are attracted each other by the action of electrostatic forces. Ionic compound – sodium chloride – at room temperature is a solid substance consisting of alternating sodium and chloride ions. The numbers of cations and anions in the crystals of the ionic compounds are such that, as a result, the crystal is electrically neutral (not charged with an electric charge). In the case of sodium chloride for one sodium cation Na+ there is one chloride anion Cl-. Molecular formula of this compound is NaCl. Record:Na+Cl- emphasizes that this compound is composed of ions.

Ionic compounds are made up of molecules. In their crystals one can distinguish the smallest set of repeating cations and anions, which corresponds to the compound's molecular formula.

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Another example of an ionic compound is magnesium chloride, made of magnesium cations Mg2+ and chloride anions Cl-.

Like every ion compound, magnesium chloride is composed of alternating ions: cations and anions.

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The molecular formula of magnesium chloride is: MgCl2.

Ionic structure is also made of aluminum chloride. It is a substance consisting of aluminum cations Al3+ and chloride anions Cl-. In the crystal that forms, on 1 tri‑positive aluminum ion Al3+ there are 3 mono‑negative chloride ions Cl-. Molecular formula of this compound is AlCl3.

Ionic bonds are formed between metals and some non‑metals.

Ionic compound

Magnesium chloride

Aluminium chloride

Sodium sulfide

Cation

Mg2+

Al3+

Na+

Anion

Cl-

Cl-

S2-

The ratio of the number of cations to the number of anions

1 : 2

1 : 3

2 : 1

Molecular formula of a chemical compound

MgCl2

AlCl3

Na2S

Ionic substances and covalent substances

Chemical compounds made of ions differ from compounds that exist in the form of molecules. Ionic compounds (containing ionic bonds) are formed as a result of interaction of metals with non‑metals. However, covalent compounds (containing covalent bonds) arise from non‑metals.

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Boiling and melting temperatures of exemplary ionic and covalent substances
Source: GroMar Sp. z o.o., licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Ionic compounds at room temperature are solid substances with high melting and boiling points. Under the same conditions, some covalent compounds are gases, others – solids, and still others – liquids. They usually have much lower boiling and melting points than ionic compounds. Most ionic compounds, unlike covalent ones, dissolve very well in water.

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Exercise 1
Select the statement saying the truth. Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. Ionic compounds most often have higher boiling and melting points in relation to covalent compounds; they are also usually more soluble in water compared to substances made of molecules., 2. Ionic compounds are composed of alternating cations and anions that form an ordered structure called an ionic crystal., 3. After accepting or donating one or more electrons, the atoms change their size: cations have a smaller radius than the atoms they form, while the anions have the same radius as atoms., 4. In an ionic compound crystal, ions with opposite signs attract each other as a result of the action of electrostatic forces.

Summary

  • Ionic compounds are composed of alternating cations and anions that form an ordered structure called an ionic crystal.

  • In an ionic compound crystal, ions with opposite signs attract each other as a result of the action of electrostatic forces.

  • Covalent compounds usually consist of molecules.

  • Ionic compounds most often have higher boiling and melting points in relation to covalent compounds; they are also usually more soluble in water compared to substances made of molecules.

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Grafika przedstawiająca tablicę szkolną, na której znajdują się zdania do dokończenia. Finish selected sentences. 1 It was easy for me (uzupełnij). 2 It was difficult for me (uzupełnij). 3 Today I learned (uzupełnij). 4 I understood that (uzupełnij). 5 It surprised me (uzupełnij). 6. Today I found out (uzupełnij). 7. I was interested in (uzupełnij). 8. I still have to repeat (uzupełnij).
Source: GroMar Sp. z o.o., licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Keywords

anion, cation, ion

Glossary

anion
anion
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Nagranie dźwiękowe słówka.

anion – jon o ładunku ujemnym

ion (straight ion)
ion (straight ion)
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Nagranie dźwiękowe słówka.

jon – cząstka obdarzona ładunkiem elektrycznym, która powstała z atomu w wyniku przyjęcia lub oddania 1 lub więcej elektronów

cation
cation
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Nagranie dźwiękowe słówka.

kation – jon o ładunku dodatnim

ionic bond (ionic structure)
ionic bond (ionic structure)
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Nagranie dźwiękowe słówka.

wiązanie jonowe – rodzaj wiązania chemicznego, które powstaje w wyniku elektrostatycznego przyciągania się jonów o przeciwnych znakach