Bonding Packet

Chemistry A
Bonding

Worksheet #1: Introduction to Ionic Bonds

The forces that hold matter together are called chemical bonds. There are four major types of bonds. We need to learn in detail about these bonds and how they influence the properties of matter. The four major types of bonds are:
I. Ionic Bonds III. Metallic Bonds
II. Covalent Bonds IV. Intermolecular (van der Waals) forces

Ionic Bonds The ionic bond is formed by the attraction between oppositely charged ions. Ionic bonds are formed between metals and nonmetals. Remember that metal atoms lose one or more valence electrons in order to achieve a stable electron arrangement. When a metal atom loses electrons it forms a positive ion or cation. When nonmetals react they gain one or more electrons to reach a stable electron arrangement. When a nonmetal atom gains one or more electrons it forms a negative ion or anion. The metal cations donate electrons to the nonmetal anions so they stick together in an ionic compound. This means that ionic bonds are formed by the complete transfer of one or more electrons. A structure with its particles arranged in a regular repeating pattern is called a crystal. Because opposite charges attract and like charges repel, the ions in an ionic compound stack up in a regular repeating pattern called a crystal lattice. The positive ions are pushed away from other positive ions and attracted to negative ions so this produces a regular arrangement of particles where each ion is surrounded by ions of the opposite charge. Each ion in the crystal has a strong electrical attraction to its oppositely charged neighbors so the whole crystal holds together as one giant unit. We have no individual molecules in ionic compounds, just the regular stacking of positive and negative ions.

1. Define the following terms: a) ionic bond –

b) cation –

c) anion –

d) crystal –

2. What are the smallest units of an ionic bond?

At room temperature