How ions form5 steps · you move the electron
- Look at the outer shells. Atoms are stable with a full outer shell. Count what each one has.
- Move the electrons. {metal} gives its outer electron to {non}. You move it.
- Work out the charges. Charge = protons − electrons. One atom at a time.
- Opposite charges attract. The positive and negative ions pull on each other. Ionic bond: the attraction between oppositely charged ions.
- Billions of them: a giant lattice. The same ions repeat in every direction, each one pulling on its neighbours.
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