Chemistry / Unit 2 Chem 0288 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Ionic Bond
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The idea
An ionic bond is the electrostatic attraction that holds together a cation and an anion of opposite charge within a compound.
In practice
In sodium chloride, each Na+ ion is held to surrounding Cl− ions purely by the attraction between their opposite charges.
Where people slip
An ionic bond is not a shared electron pair — the attraction is purely electrostatic between two already-formed, oppositely charged ions.
Your place on the trail
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