Final answer:
The charge on the electron cloud balances the charge on the nucleus, facilitating the formation of ionic compounds through the transfer of electrons and the attraction of oppositely charged ions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The charge on the electron cloud balances the charge on the nucleus. This mutual attraction between the negatively charged electrons and the positively charged protons imparts stability to the atom. Atoms gain or lose electrons to form ions with stable electron configurations, leading to the formation of ionic compounds.
In ionic bonding, as shown in Figure 2.9, an electron can be transferred from one atom to another, forming a cation (positively charged) and an anion (negatively charged), which are then attracted to each other due to their opposite charges. This attraction is crucial for the compound formation. The strong nuclear force mentioned in question 10 does not influence the electrons; it is responsible for holding the protons and neutrons in the nucleus together despite the electrostatic repulsion between protons.