Chapter 2, Problem 2.61P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The type and the nature of the bonding that occurs between reactive metals and non-metals is to be determined.

Concept introduction:

In a periodic table, the elements along the left of the staircase are metals. Metals are generally good electricity and thermal conductors, hard, shiny, and brittle. Non-metals, on the other hand, are poor electricity and thermal conductors, soft and dull in appearance. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity whereas non-metals are the bad conductors of heat and electricity.

A chemical bond is formed by the transfer or sharing of electrons to attain the stable electron configurations for the bonding atoms in the Lewis model. The bonding can be ionic or covalent. A covalent bond is formed by the sharing of valence electrons between two non-metals. For example, ${\text{F}}_2$ molecule is formed when two fluorine $\left(\text{F}\right)$ atoms shared electrons between them to attain a stable configuration. An ionic bond is formed when electrons are transferred between a metal and a nonmetal. For example, $\text{NaCl}$ is formed when sodium $\left(\text{Na}\right)$ atom loses an electron and chlorine $\left(\text{Cl}\right)$ atom gains an electron.