Question
A bond between an metal and a nonmetal.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
A bond between a metal and a nonmetal is known as an **ionic bond**. In an ionic bond, electrons are transferred from the metal to the nonmetal. Metals, which typically have low ionization energies, tend to lose electrons and form positively charged ions (cations), while nonmetals, which have high electronegativities, tend to gain electrons to form negatively charged ions (anions).
For example, in the compound sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium (a metal) loses one electron to become Na⁺, and chlorine (a nonmetal) gains that electron to become Cl⁻. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions is what constitutes the ionic bond. This type of bonding often leads to the formation of crystalline structures and results in properties typical of ionic compounds, such as high melting and boiling points, and electrical conductivity when dissolved in water.
For example, in the compound sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium (a metal) loses one electron to become Na⁺, and chlorine (a nonmetal) gains that electron to become Cl⁻. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions is what constitutes the ionic bond. This type of bonding often leads to the formation of crystalline structures and results in properties typical of ionic compounds, such as high melting and boiling points, and electrical conductivity when dissolved in water.