Why are sodium and lithium not likely to form an ionic bond?

Answer 1

Sodium is a metal and whilst metals are generally ionic some do indeed form covalent bonds. The alkali metals generally form ionic compounds. Taking sodium

it has a low electronegativity (O.93)

1. its 1st ionisation energy is low 495.8 kJ/mol ( compared to some elemnts in the same period, magnesium which is 737.7kJ/mol, and silicon 786.5kJ/mol) so energy required to lose electrons easier to compensate for in forming ionic compounds.
2. to achieve the octet it would need to share 7 electrons!
3. the sodium ion has an ionic radius of 116pm- it is therefore not as polarising as say Lithium. (ignore this if you haven't come across Fajans rules for polarisability by small cations leading to some covalency.)

Answer 2

Sodium and lithium are both alkali metals, in group one of the Periodic Table. An ionic bond is formed when a non-metal gains electrons, and a metal loses electrons. The resulting compound is stable and unreactive. In this case, both Na and Li are metals, and need to lose electrons with non-metals to become stable. They will not form a compound together.

Answer 3

Chemicals with similar values of electronegativity are unlikely to form ionic bonds. As these have values of 0.93 and 0.98 respectively on the Pauling scale, they will not form an ionic bond.

Also, they are both metals, and will therefore use metallic bonding as their primary form of bonding.

Answer 4

An ionic bond occurs between a metal and a non-metal. Both lithium and sodium are metals. Therefore, they do not, nor will they ever bond to form an ionic compound. Both atoms look to lose their outer electron, their for making a bond improbable.

Answer 5

Because they have approximately equal electronegativity values. Neither atom would form a positive ion to be paired.

Answer 6

The ionization energy of lithium is a bit greater than the ionization energy of sodium.

Answer 7

They both form positive Ions meaning that they wont be attracted to each other

Answer 8

Sodium and iron cannot form an ionc bond because the difference in electronegativity is insufficient.

Answer 9

because both need 1 valence electron