Which describes a step in the process of forming an ionic bond?
A.) A metal atom loses electrons and becomes a positive ion.
B.) A metal atom gains electrons and becomes a negative ion.
C.) A nonmetal atom loses electrons and becomes a negative ion.
D.) A nonmetal atom gains electrons and becomes a positive ion.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is A. A metal atom loses electrons and becomes a positive ion.
In the formation of an ionic bond, a metal atom and a nonmetal atom interact in such a way that the metal atom loses electrons, becoming positively charged, while the nonmetal atom gains those electrons, becoming negatively charged. This results in the creation of oppositely charged ions that are held together by electrostatic attraction.
To explain in detail:
- The Metal Atom: Metals, such as sodium (Na) or magnesium (Mg), have a tendency to lose electrons because they have fewer electrons in their outermost shell. When a metal atom loses one or more electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion (called a cation). For example, a sodium atom (Na) can lose one electron to become Na⁺.
- The Nonmetal Atom: Nonmetals, such as chlorine (Cl) or oxygen (O), tend to gain electrons because they have more room in their outer shell to accommodate extra electrons. When a nonmetal atom gains one or more electrons, it becomes negatively charged (called an anion). For example, a chlorine atom (Cl) can gain one electron to become Cl⁻.
- Formation of Ionic Bonds: The oppositely charged ions, Na⁺ and Cl⁻, are attracted to each other due to the electrostatic force between the positive and negative charges. This strong attraction is what forms the ionic bond. The resulting compound, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), is stable because the electrostatic forces hold the ions together.
In summary, the key step in forming an ionic bond is the metal atom losing electrons to become a positively charged ion. This is crucial because it sets up the electrostatic attraction with the nonmetal ion, leading to the formation of a stable ionic compound.