Why do ionic compounds form?

Why do ionic compounds form?

• A. The valence electrons are transferred from an atom of one element to an atom of another element
• B. There are very strong forces of attraction among oppositely charged ions, so ionic compounds are always crystalline solids
• C. Ions form due to sharing electrons
• D. Atoms gain neutrons

Answer: (B)

Ionic bonding happens when atoms with very different desires for electrons interact so that electrons are transferred from one atom to another. This transfer creates ions: a positively charged ion and a negatively charged ion. The strong electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions pulls them together, forming the ionic compound. That attraction also leads to the regular, repeating arrangement of ions in a lattice, which is why ionic compounds are typically crystalline solids. Sharing electrons describes covalent bonding, not ionic bonding, and gaining neutrons doesn’t affect chemical bonding.

Ionic bonding happens when atoms with very different desires for electrons interact so that electrons are transferred from one atom to another. This transfer creates ions: a positively charged ion and a negatively charged ion. The strong electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions pulls them together, forming the ionic compound. That attraction also leads to the regular, repeating arrangement of ions in a lattice, which is why ionic compounds are typically crystalline solids. Sharing electrons describes covalent bonding, not ionic bonding, and gaining neutrons doesn’t affect chemical bonding.