This activity uses the excellent AZER atom model to depict ionic bonding of sodium and chloride forming table salt. It should be part of instruction on chemical bonding and the use of other examples of chemical bonding could also be used.
Related Vocabulary:
- electron - a negatively charge subatomic particle with very little mass
- neutron - a subatomic particle with no charge located in the nucleus of an atom
- proton - a subatomic particle with a positive charge located in the nucleus of an atom
- electron cloud - an area around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are likely to be found
- valence electron - an electron that is found in an atom's outermost energy level and that determines the atom's chemical properties.
- chemical bond - an interaction that holds atoms or ions together
- ionic bond - chemical bonding which occurs when valence electrons are transferred between atoms
- covalent bond - chemical bonding which occurs when valence electrons are shared among atoms