How do Metal and non- metal react
with an example electron diet
struc
ture for
sodium
oxygen and Magnesium?
Answers
Metalatoms have only a few electrons in their outer shell whereas non-metal atoms have lots of electrons in their outer shell. This means that metals tend to react with non-metals. When a metal reacts with a non-metal, electrons transfer from the metal to the non-metal. This creates oppositely charged ions:
metal atoms lose electrons to form positive ions (cations)
non-metal atoms gain electrons to form negative ions (anions)
The strong electrostatic forces of attraction between the oppositely charged ions hold them together. A small separate molecule like water only contains three atoms. However, an ionic compound contains millions of ions, arranged in a regular 3D pattern. This arrangement is called a giant ionic lattice.
Ionic structure of sodium chloride forming a cubic lattice
A three-dimensional model for the ionic lattice in sodium chloride
Dot and cross diagrams
A dot and cross diagram models the transfer of electrons from metal atoms to non-metal atoms. The electrons from one atom are shown as dots, and the electrons from the other atom are shown as crosses.
Example - sodium chloride
When sodium reacts with chlorine, one electron is transferred from the sodium atom to the chlorine atom. This creates a positive sodium ion and a negative chloride ion.
The outer electron from a sodium atom transfers to the outer shell of a chlorine atom
The outer electron from a sodium atom transfers to the outer shell of a chlorine atom
For every sodium ion in sodium chloride there is one chloride ion.
Ionic compounds have no overall charge. The atoms must react in the correct ratio. This is shown in the dot and cross diagram.
Example - sodium oxide
When sodium reacts with oxygen the oxide has a charge of -2. Each sodium ion has a charge of +1.
Electron structures of sodium atoms with arrows pointing from the outer electrons to the outer ring of the oxygen atom.
For every oxide ion in sodium oxide there are two sodium ions. The overall charge is then zero
The slideshow shows dot and cross diagrams for the ions in sodium chloride, magnesium oxide and calcium chloride.