Ionic bonding is a way that atoms connect with each other. It happens when one atom gives up electrons to another atom. This mostly happens between metal atoms and non-metal atoms.

How Ionic Bonding Works:

1. Electron Giving: A metal atom loses electrons. This makes it positively charged, which we call a cation.
2. Electron Taking: A non-metal atom takes in those electrons. This turns it into a negatively charged ion, called an anion.
3. Attraction: Since the two ions have opposite charges, they pull towards each other and create a strong ionic bond.

Key Features:

• High Melting Points: Ionic compounds usually have high melting and boiling points.
• Conductivity: They can carry electricity when they are dissolved in water.

Example:

A common example of ionic bonding is sodium chloride (NaCl). In this case, sodium (Na) gives an electron to chlorine (Cl).