Ionic Bonds

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to Ionic Bonds.

Ionic bond

A chemical bond formed by the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions (cations and anions) after electron transfer from a metal to a nonmetal.

Ion

An atom or molecule that has gained or lost electrons, giving it a net electric charge.

Cation

A positively charged ion, usually formed when a metal loses electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion, usually formed when a nonmetal gains electrons.

Electron transfer

The process by which electrons are transferred from one atom to another in the formation of ionic bonds.

Electrostatic attraction

The force that binds oppositely charged ions together in an ionic compound.

Ionic lattice

A regular, repeating three-dimensional arrangement of ions in a solid ionic compound.

Ionic compound

A compound composed of a lattice of cations and anions held together by ionic bonds.

Metal + Nonmetal (ionic bond formation)

Ionic bonds typically form when a metal loses electrons and a nonmetal gains them.