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Ionic Bonds fill in the blanks

Ionic Bonds fill in the blanks-example-1

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Final answer:

Ionic bonds are formed by the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions created when a metal atom transfers electrons to a nonmetal atom, leading to the formation of compounds like sodium chloride. Covalent bonds, in contrast, involve the sharing of electrons and are typically found between nonmetal atoms. Ionic bonds are generally stronger than covalent bonds and lead to crystalline structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ionic bonds are the result of the electrostatic attraction between ions which have opposite charges. This typically happens when a metal atom transfers one or more of its electrons to a nonmetal atom, resulting in the formation of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions. For example, a sodium atom (Na) can lose an electron to become a Na+ cation, while a chlorine atom (Cl) can gain an electron to become a Cl− anion. The resultant Na+ and Cl− ions attract each other, forming the ionic compound sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt.

In contrast, a covalent bond is characterized by the sharing of electrons between atoms, typically nonmetals, which have similar electronegativity. Such a bond allows each atom to reach a stable electronic configuration similar to that of noble gases. An example of a covalent bond is seen in a hydrogen molecule (H₂), where two hydrogen atoms share their electrons.

The strength of ionic bonding is generally between that of covalent and metallic bonds, with ionic bonds forming strong crystalline structures, such as in the case of table salt.

User Alex Newman
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Answer:

In an ionic bond, metals lose valence electrons and become positively charged cations. Nonmetals gain valence electrons and become negatively charged anions.

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User Michael Godshall
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