Ionic bonds description

The Zintl-Klemm concept evolved from the seminal ideas of E. ZintI that explained the structural behavior of main-group (s-p) binary intermetaUics in terms of the presence of both ionic and covalent parts in their bonding description [31, 37]. Instead of using Hume-Rother/s idea of a valence electron concentration, ZintI proposed an electron transfer from the electropositive to the electronegative partner (ionic part) and related the anionic substructure to known isoelectronic elemental structures (covalent part), e.g., TK in NaTl is isoelectro-nic with C, Si and Ge, and consequenUy a diamond substructure is formed. ZintI hypothesized that the structures of this class of intermetallics would be salt-like [16b, 31 f, 37e]. 

Surprisingly, therefore, the same topological equations (3.3) and (3.4), provide a description of both ionic and covalent bonding. It does not therefore matter whether a bond is considered to be ionic or covalent in character since both have the same bond valence description. This leads to the important corollary the bond valence model cannot distinguish between ionic and covalent bonding. Within the model, the terms ionic bond and covalent bond are without any formal significance. 

This chapter consists of two sections, one being a general discussion of the stable forms of the elements, whether they are metals or non-metals, and the reasons for the differences. The theory of the metallic bond is introduced, and related to the electrical conduction properties of the elements. The second section is devoted to a detailed description of the energetics of ionic bond formation. A discussion of the transition from ionic to covalent bonding in solids is also included. 

Instead of using this description of the bond as involving resonance between an extreme covalent bond H C1 and an extreme ionic bond H+Cl-, we may describe the bond as a covalent bond with partial ionic character, and make use of the valence line, writing H—Cl (or H—Cl )... 

The energy required for the formation of ionic bonds is supplied largely by the coulombic attraction between oppositely charged ions the ionic model is a good description of bonding between nonmetals and metals, particularly metals from the s block. 

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