They have opposite charges. Like charges repel, opposite charges attract.
Yes, they have a natural tendency towards each other.
ionic compounds
yes
Electrolyte is a mixture of cations and anions. This is means that it will contain positively charged and negatively charged ions.
The electrostatic force of attraction between opposite charges. Anions and cations are bound together electrostatically . The positive charge on the cations is attracted to the negative charge on the anions. This results in a very strong bond that is difficult to break apart. Sodium chloride melts at around 1274 K (~801 oC. This means a lot of energy is required to break apart the sodium cation from the chloride anion. One way that the ions can be broken apart is if they are given an alternative attractive partner (!). Water does this quite well as it is a polar molecule, it has a negative end and a positive end. The slightly negative oxygen acts as a partner for cations and the slightly positive hydrogens act as a partner for the anions. The ionic substance can split apart a very low temperature when dissolved in water due to the electrostatic interactions provided in the water.
The sum of the charges of ions in an ionic bond is always equal to zero. The compound would consist of the minimum number of ions necessary to make the charge of the compound equal to zero.For example, the charge of Na is +1, and the charge of Cl is -1. When these are bonded in an ionic bond, the Na+ and Cl- make NaCl, with a charge of zero.When you have two elements that aren't equal in charge, then you must make it to where the charges of both the cations and the anions equal zero when summed. You do this by adding more cations and anions to the compound as necessary.For example, the charge of Magnesium is +2, and the charge of Nitrogen is -3. To make the charge of this compound equal zero, you would need three Magnesiums and two Nitrogens. (2+2+2-3-3=0.) This means that when Mg2+ and N3- are bonded in an ionic bond, they would make Mg3N2.But basically, the short answer is that the sum of the charges on the ions in a unit of a compound is zero.
The elements from group 1-13 or IA-IIIA (including all of the B groups) tend to form cations.Related Information:A cation is an element or molecule with a positive charge. This means that the element or molecule has lost one of its original electrons, making it less negative and therefore more positive.So elements that have an affinity to give away their electrons tend to form cations. In order for elements to want to give away their electrons the process must be favorable... The most favorable process is when an element ends up with a full valence octet. Elements with more than half their valence electrons end up with a full octet by gaining more electrons whereas elements with fewer than half their valence electrons end up with a full octet by losing their outermost valence electrons therefore becoming cations.
Elements on the left side of the periodic table become positive when they disassociate (they give up 1 or more electrons), therefore will go to a cathode in an electrolysis tank, so we call them cations. Elements on the right side of the periodic table pick up one or more electrons and become negative. These will go to the positive electrode in a tank, so we call them anions. If you think that this naming convention is confusing and stupid, that means you are an intelligent right-thinking person. Unfortunately, this idiocy is so embedded we will never be free of it, so learn it and weep. Besides + and - other differences in ions include how many charges, and how many atoms in the molecular. We have simple elemental Cations such as sodium (Na+), fully ionized calcium (Ca++), and fully ionized aluminum (Al+++). We have simple elemental anions such as chlorine (Cl-), fully ionized sulfur (S--), and fully ionized phosphorus (P---). Finally, we have ion groups such as sulfur dioxide, (SO2--) Another left-right periodic table distinction is metallic (left) and non-metallic (right). WARNING. This is a gross oversimplification and is almost as poor as cations-anions.
Electrolyte is a mixture of cations and anions. This is means that it will contain positively charged and negatively charged ions.
Ionically bonded compounds are held together by opposite charges on the anions and cations that constitute the compound. Covalently bonded compounds and metals are held together by other means.
The electrostatic force of attraction between opposite charges. Anions and cations are bound together electrostatically . The positive charge on the cations is attracted to the negative charge on the anions. This results in a very strong bond that is difficult to break apart. Sodium chloride melts at around 1274 K (~801 oC. This means a lot of energy is required to break apart the sodium cation from the chloride anion. One way that the ions can be broken apart is if they are given an alternative attractive partner (!). Water does this quite well as it is a polar molecule, it has a negative end and a positive end. The slightly negative oxygen acts as a partner for cations and the slightly positive hydrogens act as a partner for the anions. The ionic substance can split apart a very low temperature when dissolved in water due to the electrostatic interactions provided in the water.
Ionic compounds are compounds with an electrical charge. That means that both cations (loss of electron) and anions (gain of electron) are ionic. In a salt where a cation and anion is combined the net sum of electrons is the same.
ATOMS THAT ARE NONMETALS WILL FORM ANIONS (NEGATIVE IONS) IF GIVEN THE CHANCE WHEN ELECTRONS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE FORMATION OF CATIONS (POSITIVE IONS).THE ELECTRONS NEED A HOME, EITHER WITH THEIR ORIGINAL ATOMS, OR IF CATIONS FORM, THEN WITH ANIONS THAT MUST FORM AT THE SAME TIME.CHARGE MUST BE CONSERVED IN ANY CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL CHANGE.A negative ion is formed when an atom gains an electron, (because electrons have a negative charge).
The sum of the charges of ions in an ionic bond is always equal to zero. The compound would consist of the minimum number of ions necessary to make the charge of the compound equal to zero.For example, the charge of Na is +1, and the charge of Cl is -1. When these are bonded in an ionic bond, the Na+ and Cl- make NaCl, with a charge of zero.When you have two elements that aren't equal in charge, then you must make it to where the charges of both the cations and the anions equal zero when summed. You do this by adding more cations and anions to the compound as necessary.For example, the charge of Magnesium is +2, and the charge of Nitrogen is -3. To make the charge of this compound equal zero, you would need three Magnesiums and two Nitrogens. (2+2+2-3-3=0.) This means that when Mg2+ and N3- are bonded in an ionic bond, they would make Mg3N2.But basically, the short answer is that the sum of the charges on the ions in a unit of a compound is zero.
Gravitation, or gravity. It is the means by which objects with mass attract one another.
The elements from group 1-13 or IA-IIIA (including all of the B groups) tend to form cations.Related Information:A cation is an element or molecule with a positive charge. This means that the element or molecule has lost one of its original electrons, making it less negative and therefore more positive.So elements that have an affinity to give away their electrons tend to form cations. In order for elements to want to give away their electrons the process must be favorable... The most favorable process is when an element ends up with a full valence octet. Elements with more than half their valence electrons end up with a full octet by gaining more electrons whereas elements with fewer than half their valence electrons end up with a full octet by losing their outermost valence electrons therefore becoming cations.
Ionic compounds are composed of positively charged ions and negatively charged ions. The magnitude of the positive and negative charges are equal. Therefore, the equal but opposite charges cancel each other, and the ionic compound is neutral. Na+ + Cl- --> NaCl Mg2+ + Cl- + Cl- --> MgCl2
Elements on the left side of the periodic table become positive when they disassociate (they give up 1 or more electrons), therefore will go to a cathode in an electrolysis tank, so we call them cations. Elements on the right side of the periodic table pick up one or more electrons and become negative. These will go to the positive electrode in a tank, so we call them anions. If you think that this naming convention is confusing and stupid, that means you are an intelligent right-thinking person. Unfortunately, this idiocy is so embedded we will never be free of it, so learn it and weep. Besides + and - other differences in ions include how many charges, and how many atoms in the molecular. We have simple elemental Cations such as sodium (Na+), fully ionized calcium (Ca++), and fully ionized aluminum (Al+++). We have simple elemental anions such as chlorine (Cl-), fully ionized sulfur (S--), and fully ionized phosphorus (P---). Finally, we have ion groups such as sulfur dioxide, (SO2--) Another left-right periodic table distinction is metallic (left) and non-metallic (right). WARNING. This is a gross oversimplification and is almost as poor as cations-anions.
Going across the periodic table from left to right ignoring the transition metals, +1 charge are for group IA, group IIA is for +2 then it skips to group IIIB with +3 charge, group VB is -3, group VIB is -2, group VIIB is -1 charge.
Attract