Ionic compound

Ionic compounds are a class of chemical compounds composed of ions held together by electrostatic forces termed ionic bonding. The compound is neutral overall, but consists of positively charged ions called cations and negatively charged ions called anions. These can be simple ions such as the sodium (Na^+) and chloride (Cl^-) in sodium chloride, or polyatomic ions such as the ammonium (NH_4^+) and carbonate (CO_3^2-) ions in ammonium carbonate.

Formation

Ionic compounds form when a metal reacts with a non-metal. Metals tend to lose electrons to form cations, whereas non-metals tend to gain electrons to form anions. The electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions leads to the formation of the ionic bond.

Properties

Ionic compounds have distinct properties due to the strong electrostatic forces holding the ions in a rigid structure. They typically have high melting and boiling points, and are hard and brittle. In solid state, they are poor conductors of electricity, but when melted or dissolved in water, they become good conductors due to the mobility of the ions.

Examples

Common examples of ionic compounds include sodium chloride (NaCl), magnesium oxide (MgO), and calcium carbonate (CaCO_3).

Applications

Ionic compounds have a wide range of applications. They are used in food as preservatives and flavor enhancers, in the chemical industry as reactants, and in daily life in the form of common salt, detergents, and soaps.