Question

What factors result in a stronger ionic bond?

Answer 1

1. Ionic bond: It is formed by the electrostatic interactions between the oppositely charged ions.
2. Ionic bonds are stronger than covalent bonds due to the electronegative difference between the atoms.
3. Examples of ionic bonds are:
   ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}+{\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\to \mathrm{NaCl}$

The factors affecting the ionic bond formation are as follows.

1. Low ionization energy: Low ionization energy favors the formation of an ionic bond. Lower the ionization energy will readily lose electrons.
2. High electron gain enthalpy: High electron gain enthalpy means more attraction and hence more readily the bond will be formed.
3. In ionic solids, the sum of electron gain enthalpy and ionization enthalpy may be positive but still, the system gets stabilized due to the energy released in the formation of the crystal lattice.
4. Thus the stability of an ionic compound is provided by its enthalpy of lattice formation and not simply by achieving an octet of electrons around the ionic species.
5. Lattice enthalpy: It follows a direct relation i.e, the more the lattice energy more strong the bond will be.