An ion is an electrically charged atom or group of atoms formed by the loss or gain of electrons. Ions form so that the atom can achieve a full outer shell of electrons, like the electronic configuration of a noble gas.

What is the difference between a cation and an anion ?

A cation is a positively charged ion formed when an atom loses electrons, leaving it with more protons than electrons. An anion is a negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains electrons, giving it more electrons than protons.

True or False? Non-metal atoms form positive ions by losing electrons.

False. Non-metal atoms form negative ions (anions) by gaining electrons. It is metal atoms that lose electrons to form positive ions (cations).

An ionic bond is the strong .......... force of attraction between .......... charged ions. It holds ionic compounds .......... .

An ionic bond is the strong electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions. It holds ionic compounds together .

Why does sodium form an Na + ion rather than Na 2+ or Na - ?

Sodium is in Group I and has one outer-shell electron. Losing this single electron gives sodium a full outer shell (2,8), the configuration of neon. Removing two electrons would require much more energy and would not give a stable noble-gas configuration, so Na + is strongly preferred.

Describe the formation of ionic bonding between sodium and chlorine.

Sodium (Group I) loses one outer electron to form Na + with configuration 2,8. Chlorine (Group VII) gains that electron to form Cl - with configuration 2,8,8. The oppositely charged ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces , forming the ionic compound NaCl.

True or False? The overall charge of an ionic compound is always zero.

True. In an ionic compound, the positive and negative charges of the ions balance each other exactly so the compound has no overall charge . For example, in NaCl one Na + balances one Cl - .

Chlorine is in Group VII, so it .......... one electron to form a .......... ion with a charge of .......... .

Chlorine is in Group VII, so it gains one electron to form a negative ion with a charge of 1- .

What charge do elements in Group II form when they become ions and why?

Elements in Group II form ions with a 2+ charge. They have two outer-shell electrons, and losing both achieves a full outer shell matching the noble gas configuration. This leaves the atom with two more protons than electrons, giving a 2+ charge.

What is a giant lattice structure?

A giant lattice structure is a regular, repeating three-dimensional arrangement of particles. In ionic compounds, the lattice consists of alternating positive and negative ions held together by strong electrostatic forces.

True or False? In the lattice of NaCl, positive and negative ions alternate in a regular pattern throughout the structure.

True. The NaCl lattice consists of alternating Na + and Cl - ions arranged in a regular, repeating three-dimensional pattern. Each positive ion is surrounded by negative ions and vice versa.

Why do ionic compounds form a giant lattice rather than small separate molecules?

Each ion in an ionic compound attracts all the oppositely charged ions around it, not just one. This means that a vast, extended network of alternating positive and negative ions builds up, forming a giant lattice rather than discrete molecules.

Magnesium is a Group II metal, so it .......... two electrons to form a .......... ion with a charge of 2+ . Oxygen is a Group VI non-metal, so it .......... two electrons to form an ion with a charge of 2- . (Extended Tier Only)

Magnesium is a Group II metal, so it loses two electrons to form a positive ion with a charge of 2+ . Oxygen is a Group VI non-metal, so it gains two electrons to form an ion with a charge of 2- .

Describe the formation of ionic bonding in magnesium oxide (MgO). (Extended Tier Only)

Magnesium (Group II) loses two outer electrons to form Mg 2+ . Oxygen (Group VI) gains those two electrons to form O 2- . The Mg 2+ and O 2- ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction, forming MgO with no overall charge.

True or False? Ionic bonding can only occur between atoms of the same element.

False. Ionic bonding occurs between metal atoms and non-metal atoms. The metal loses electrons to form a positive ion and the non-metal gains them to form a negative ion.

In a dot-and-cross diagram for an ionic compound, each ion is enclosed in .......... with the .......... written outside at the top right. (Extended Tier Only)

In a dot-and-cross diagram for an ionic compound, each ion is enclosed in square brackets with the charge written outside at the top right.

How does the charge on the ions in MgO compare with the charge on the ions in NaCl, and what does this mean for the ratio of ions in each compound? (Extended Tier Only)

In NaCl, the ions are Na + and Cl - (charges of 1+ and 1-), so the ratio is 1:1. In MgO, the ions are Mg 2+ and O 2- (charges of 2+ and 2-), which also cancel in a 1:1 ratio. Both compounds have no overall charge because the total positive charge equals the total negative charge.

What is the typical physical state of an ionic compound at room temperature?

Ionic compounds are typically solid at room temperature. They have high melting and boiling points because a large amount of energy is needed to break the many strong electrostatic forces of attraction throughout the giant lattice.

True or False? Ionic compounds conduct electricity when dissolved in water.

True. When an ionic compound is dissolved in water (aqueous) or melted, the ions are free to move and carry charge, allowing the compound to conduct electricity . In the solid state, the ions are fixed in the lattice and cannot move, so they cannot conduct.

Ionic compounds have .......... melting and boiling points because the .......... forces holding the ions together in the lattice are very .......... .

Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points because the electrostatic forces holding the ions together in the lattice are very strong .

Why does an ionic compound not conduct electricity in the solid state?

In the solid state, the ions are locked in fixed positions within the giant lattice and cannot move. Electrical conduction requires charged particles that are free to move, so solid ionic compounds are poor conductors.

Why do ionic compounds conduct electricity when molten or in solution?

When melted or dissolved, the ions become free to move. These mobile charged particles can carry an electric current through the substance, making ionic compounds good conductors in the molten state or in aqueous solution .

True or False? Ionic compounds have low melting points because their bonds are weak.

False. Ionic compounds have high melting points because the electrostatic forces of attraction between the many oppositely charged ions throughout the giant lattice are very strong and require a large amount of energy to overcome.

Ionic compounds are good electrical conductors when .......... or in .......... , but poor conductors in the .......... state.

Ionic compounds are good electrical conductors when molten or in solution , but poor conductors in the solid state.

How does the giant lattice structure explain why ionic compounds have high melting points?

In a giant lattice , each ion is attracted to many surrounding ions of opposite charge. Breaking the lattice requires overcoming a very large number of strong electrostatic forces throughout the entire structure, which demands a great deal of energy, resulting in high melting points.

IGCSEScienceCambridge (CIE)Combined ScienceChemistryFlashcards2. Atoms, Elements & CompoundsIons & Ionic Bonds

Ions & Ionic Bonds (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Combined Science: Chemistry): Flashcards

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What is an ion?

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What is an ion?
An ion is an electrically charged atom or group of atoms formed by the loss or gain of electrons. Ions form so that the atom can achieve a full outer shell of electrons, like the electronic configuration of a noble gas.
What is the difference between a cation and an anion?
A cation is a positively charged ion formed when an atom loses electrons, leaving it with more protons than electrons. An anion is a negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains electrons, giving it more electrons than protons.
True or False?
Non-metal atoms form positive ions by losing electrons.
False.
Non-metal atoms form negative ions (anions) by gaining electrons. It is metal atoms that lose electrons to form positive ions (cations).
An ionic bond is the strong .......... force of attraction between .......... charged ions. It holds ionic compounds .......... .
An ionic bond is the strong electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged ions. It holds ionic compounds together.
Why does sodium form an Na⁺ ion rather than Na²⁺ or Na^-?
Sodium is in Group I and has one outer-shell electron. Losing this single electron gives sodium a full outer shell (2,8), the configuration of neon. Removing two electrons would require much more energy and would not give a stable noble-gas configuration, so Na⁺ is strongly preferred.
Describe the formation of ionic bonding between sodium and chlorine.
Sodium (Group I) loses one outer electron to form Na⁺ with configuration 2,8. Chlorine (Group VII) gains that electron to form Cl^- with configuration 2,8,8. The oppositely charged ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces, forming the ionic compound NaCl.
True or False?
The overall charge of an ionic compound is always zero.
True.
In an ionic compound, the positive and negative charges of the ions balance each other exactly so the compound has no overall charge. For example, in NaCl one Na⁺ balances one Cl^-.
Chlorine is in Group VII, so it .......... one electron to form a .......... ion with a charge of .......... .
Chlorine is in Group VII, so it gains one electron to form a negative ion with a charge of 1-.
What charge do elements in Group II form when they become ions and why?
Elements in Group II form ions with a 2+ charge. They have two outer-shell electrons, and losing both achieves a full outer shell matching the noble gas configuration. This leaves the atom with two more protons than electrons, giving a 2+ charge.
What is a giant lattice structure?
A giant lattice structure is a regular, repeating three-dimensional arrangement of particles. In ionic compounds, the lattice consists of alternating positive and negative ions held together by strong electrostatic forces.
True or False?
In the lattice of NaCl, positive and negative ions alternate in a regular pattern throughout the structure.
True.
The NaCl lattice consists of alternating Na⁺ and Cl^- ions arranged in a regular, repeating three-dimensional pattern. Each positive ion is surrounded by negative ions and vice versa.
Why do ionic compounds form a giant lattice rather than small separate molecules?
Each ion in an ionic compound attracts all the oppositely charged ions around it, not just one. This means that a vast, extended network of alternating positive and negative ions builds up, forming a giant lattice rather than discrete molecules.
Magnesium is a Group II metal, so it .......... two electrons to form a .......... ion with a charge of 2+. Oxygen is a Group VI non-metal, so it .......... two electrons to form an ion with a charge of 2-. (Extended Tier Only)
Magnesium is a Group II metal, so it loses two electrons to form a positive ion with a charge of 2+. Oxygen is a Group VI non-metal, so it gains two electrons to form an ion with a charge of 2-.
Describe the formation of ionic bonding in magnesium oxide (MgO). (Extended Tier Only)
Magnesium (Group II) loses two outer electrons to form Mg²⁺. Oxygen (Group VI) gains those two electrons to form O^2-. The Mg²⁺ and O^2- ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction, forming MgO with no overall charge.
True or False?
Ionic bonding can only occur between atoms of the same element.
False.
Ionic bonding occurs between metal atoms and non-metal atoms. The metal loses electrons to form a positive ion and the non-metal gains them to form a negative ion.
In a dot-and-cross diagram for an ionic compound, each ion is enclosed in .......... with the .......... written outside at the top right. (Extended Tier Only)
In a dot-and-cross diagram for an ionic compound, each ion is enclosed in square brackets with the charge written outside at the top right.
How does the charge on the ions in MgO compare with the charge on the ions in NaCl, and what does this mean for the ratio of ions in each compound? (Extended Tier Only)
In NaCl, the ions are Na⁺ and Cl^- (charges of 1+ and 1-), so the ratio is 1:1. In MgO, the ions are Mg²⁺ and O^2- (charges of 2+ and 2-), which also cancel in a 1:1 ratio. Both compounds have no overall charge because the total positive charge equals the total negative charge.
What is the typical physical state of an ionic compound at room temperature?
Ionic compounds are typically solid at room temperature. They have high melting and boiling points because a large amount of energy is needed to break the many strong electrostatic forces of attraction throughout the giant lattice.
True or False?
Ionic compounds conduct electricity when dissolved in water.
True.
When an ionic compound is dissolved in water (aqueous) or melted, the ions are free to move and carry charge, allowing the compound to conduct electricity. In the solid state, the ions are fixed in the lattice and cannot move, so they cannot conduct.
Ionic compounds have .......... melting and boiling points because the .......... forces holding the ions together in the lattice are very .......... .
Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points because the electrostatic forces holding the ions together in the lattice are very strong.
Why does an ionic compound not conduct electricity in the solid state?
In the solid state, the ions are locked in fixed positions within the giant lattice and cannot move. Electrical conduction requires charged particles that are free to move, so solid ionic compounds are poor conductors.
Why do ionic compounds conduct electricity when molten or in solution?
When melted or dissolved, the ions become free to move. These mobile charged particles can carry an electric current through the substance, making ionic compounds good conductors in the molten state or in aqueous solution.
True or False?
Ionic compounds have low melting points because their bonds are weak.
False.
Ionic compounds have high melting points because the electrostatic forces of attraction between the many oppositely charged ions throughout the giant lattice are very strong and require a large amount of energy to overcome.
Ionic compounds are good electrical conductors when .......... or in .........., but poor conductors in the .......... state.
Ionic compounds are good electrical conductors when molten or in solution, but poor conductors in the solid state.
How does the giant lattice structure explain why ionic compounds have high melting points?
In a giant lattice, each ion is attracted to many surrounding ions of opposite charge. Breaking the lattice requires overcoming a very large number of strong electrostatic forces throughout the entire structure, which demands a great deal of energy, resulting in high melting points.

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