● ***Definition: strong electrostatic attraction between positive and negative ions
● Usually contain metal combined with non-metal
● Involving transfer of electrons from metal to non-metal, as non-metal atom has
stronger attraction from outer shell of metal atom to that of non-metal atom
● Lose electrons: positive charge (cation), gain electrons: negative charge (anion)
(as electrons have negative charge)
● Shown using dot-cross diagrams
● Ions have electron configurations similar to nearest noble gases (having full
outer electron shells)
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