Chapter 6A • Ionic bonding
Electron Transfer
Watch sodium transfer its valence electron to chlorine and connect the ion charges to NaCl.
Metal
Na
1 valence electron
Electron movement
•
Start with neutral atoms
Nonmetal
Cl
7 valence electrons
- Neutral sodium has 1 valence electron and chlorine has 7.
- Sodium loses its valence electron and becomes Na⁺.
- Chlorine gains that electron and becomes Cl⁻.
- Opposite charges attract, so the formula unit is NaCl.