IONIC BONDS
As we shall explore in this
section on ionic bonding, ionic bonds result from the mutual attraction between
oppositely charged ions. They tend to be stronger than covalent bonds due to
the coulombic attraction between ions of opposite charges. To maximize the
attraction between those ions, ionic compounds form crystal lattices of
alternating cations and anions. Ionic compounds are usually formed only between
atoms whose difference in electronegativity is large.
In our description of ionic
bonding, we will explore the questions of what determines the bond length and
bond strength of an ionic bond. We will show that bonds form at particular
distances even though the attraction between oppositely charged ions increases
strongly with decreasing distance. The opposing strong internuclear repulsion
maintains the separation between ions. Bond strength, it will be shown, depends
mostly on the charges present on each ion and the distance between them. Small,
highly charged ions will form strong bonds while large, minimally charged ions
will form weaker bonds.
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