Explain how atoms (ions) are held together in an ionic bond. Give an example of an ionic compound

Ionic bond is described as the chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions. In ionic bond the metal loses electron forming a positively charged cation and a non metal which accept the cation to form a negatively charged anion. In ionic bond the atoms are held together by electrostatic force of attraction. In ionic bond the anions and cations are present in the ratio where the total charge of the compound becomes zero. For example, Let us consider NaCl compound. An atom of the sodium has three electrons in its valency shell and the electrons are removed from the outer most shell by applying the energy of 5.14 electron volts. The chlorine atom lacks an electron to attain stable electronic configuration and it accepts the electron from the sodium by releasing 3.62 electron volts of energy which means that it takes only 1.52 electron volts of energy to donate an electron to chlorine when both the atoms are far apart. When these electrons are brought together their electric potential becomes more negative. This means that if the neutral sodium and chlorine atoms are found themselves closer it would be energetically favourable to transfer electrons from sodium to chlorine thus resulting in the formation of the ionic bond.

The ions in an ionic bond are held together by electrostatic attraction between the anions and cations in the compound.

For example, sodium chloride [NaCl] (more commonly known as salt) has positively charged sodium [Na+] ions, or cations, and negatively charged chlorine [Cl-] ions, or anions, holding the compound together.