How Do Atoms Bond?
One chemical bond sees electrons transferred from one atom to another.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
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© American Chemical Society (A Britannica Publishing Partner)A snowflake starts as a dust grain floating in a cloud.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Description of chemical reactions.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Ions—atoms with a positive or negative net charge—bind together to form ionic compounds.
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© MinutePhysics (A Britannica Publishing Partner)Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson narrating a brief history of the universe, from the big bang to the present.
Transcript
We know of two ways that atoms can bond. In one, electrons may be transferred from one atom to another.
When this happens the atom that has gained an electron becomes negatively charged…
… and the one that has lost an electron becomes positively charged.
Atoms like these are called "ions." These two oppositely charged ions are then drawn together and held by a force similar to magnetism.
We say that the ions are held together by an "ionic bond." Substances made up of ions are called "ionic compounds."
An example of an ionic compound is sodium chloride, more commonly known as table salt.
Sodium chloride forms when a sodium atom donates an electron to an atom of chlorine. By “losing” an electron, sodium becomes positively charged.
Similarly, chlorine becomes negatively charged because it gains an electron. The attraction between the oppositely charged ions constitutes the ionic bond that holds them together.
When this happens the atom that has gained an electron becomes negatively charged…
… and the one that has lost an electron becomes positively charged.
Atoms like these are called "ions." These two oppositely charged ions are then drawn together and held by a force similar to magnetism.
We say that the ions are held together by an "ionic bond." Substances made up of ions are called "ionic compounds."
An example of an ionic compound is sodium chloride, more commonly known as table salt.
Sodium chloride forms when a sodium atom donates an electron to an atom of chlorine. By “losing” an electron, sodium becomes positively charged.
Similarly, chlorine becomes negatively charged because it gains an electron. The attraction between the oppositely charged ions constitutes the ionic bond that holds them together.