Ionic Bonds between Metallic & Non-Metallic Elements
Example: Magnesium Oxide, MgO
Diagram showing the dot-and-cross diagram of magnesium oxide
Explanation
- Magnesium is a group 2 metal so will lose two outer electrons to another atom to have a full outer shell of electrons
- A positive ion with the charge +2 is formed
- Oxygen is a group 6 non-metal so will need to gain two electrons to have a full outer shell of electrons
- Two electrons will be transferred from the outer shell of the magnesium atom to the outer shell of the oxygen atom
- Oxygen atom will gain two electrons to form a negative ion with charge -2
Formula of ionic compound: MgOExtended Only
The Lattice Structure of Ionic Compounds
Lattice structure
- Lattice structure refers to the arrangement of the atoms of a substance in 3D space
- In lattice structures, the atoms are arranged in an ordered and repeating fashion
- The lattices formed by ionic compounds consist of a regular arrangement of alternating positive and negative ions
The lattice structure of NaCl
