Ionic bonding and structure

1 Ionic bonding and structure - ionic compounds are held 

Ionic bonding is described as non-directional since each ion is attracted to every other ion of opposite charge, though the attraction decreases with distance. In contrast, covalent bonding involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms and is directional. 

The formation of an ionic compound typically involves the reaction between a metal and a non-metal. An example of ionic bond formation involves the reaction between sodium and chlorine to form sodium chloride. 

The ionic bonding in sodium chloride occurs when the valence electron from the third shell of the sodium atom is transferred to the chlorine atom. 

These ions have stable noble gas electron arrangements the sodium ion has the electron arrangement of neon and the chloride ion has the electron arrangement of argon. 

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