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Simple:
Electrostatic forces are the essential cause of an ionic bond, but these forces act within the laws of Quantum Mechanics.
Ionic bond:
The concept of an ionic bond is shorthand term for saying that two (usually neutral) atoms can combine as a bound pair with most of the equivalent of one electron's charge being increased in the vicinity of one atom and decreased in the vicinity of the other.
(We are not going to discuss the complexities of atom interactions in a solid or liquid or when there is a net charge or a net deficiency of charge on the two atoms under discussion.) As an aside, a covalent bond is typically more equal, but not exactly equal, charge on the two atoms.
Quantum Mechanics:
With that definition, the question is really asking, "What causes two atoms which are separately neutral to be attracted and become bound together strongly with a significant transfer of charge (ionic bound) from one atom to the other?"
The laws of physics governing this process are quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics provides very restrictive conditions on the spatial relations of the electrons in atoms and molecules. (The idea of electronic orbitals is useful here.) The total energy of the two atoms and all electrons is the sum of the potential energy and the kinetic energy of these particles. (The kinetic energy of the nuclei and their quantum behavior are a small effect which is thousands of times smaller than the the quantum effect on electrons, so this answer will suppose the nuclei just sit quietly a few angstroms apart.) When the atoms get a few angstroms apart, the coulomb forces between the charges (both positive and negative) are significantly changed just from the fact that Coulomb's law says energy is inversely proportional to distance. The electronic structure of the two atoms can then change and depending on the nuclear charges and the numbers of electrons, the allowed quantum mechanics structure can change a lot. (A picture of two round balls of electronic charge sitting next to each other is incorrect.) As atoms get close together, the electrons engage in potentially complex structural rearrangements in the region of space involving both atoms. The information about that complex arrangement is contained in the many-body wave function of the electrons.
In elementary chemistry courses this complex arrangement is simplified in discussions of particular allowed orbital and combinations of orbitals that are then termed bonds. It is even sometimes said incorrectly, that in an ionic bond, an outer electron from one atom transfers from its original "high energy" orbital to a "lower energy" orbital on the receiving atom. (Recall that energy in this discussion is potential and kinetic and the idea of lower or higher energy is more complex than just knowing the electron density and Coulomb's law. Kinetic energy, which is strongly influenced by the laws of quantum mechanics can equal or dominate this energy accounting.) Such simplification allows useful pictures, provide a language for discussion and avoids the complex computational task of actually solving the Schroedinger equation in accordance with the laws of quantum mechanics.
Now, a short version of the answer can be provided. There is a continuum between the idealized ionic bond and the idealized covalent bond. When the accumulated electron density around a pair of atoms does not differ much from they state as separate neutral atoms, but electronic structural changes are rather significant with electron densities (and hence wave function) shared across the whole of the space of the two atom, then it is a strong character of a covalent bond and a weak character of an ionic bond. When the reverse occurs and a significant shift of electron charge density moved from one atom to another we say that is ionic in character with very little covalent character. In the ionic bond, the analysis of the full complex wave function of all electrons will show that much of the structure in the core regions of the atoms is not much perturbed but a sizeable change of the structure in the outer has happened. We expect the combined entity to have a strong resemblence to the original two atoms, with one atom adjusting to the loss of one electron and the other atom adjusting to the gaining of that atom.
The force pushing this process, as directed by quantum theory, included the changes in the kinetic energy configurations of electrons as well a Coulomb forces.
What else can I help you with?
What is a Negative Ion known as?
An anion; the positive ion is known as a cation.
What is an ion that has lost or gained electrons called?
An atom that has gained or lost electrons is called an ion. An atom that has gained one or more electrons becomes a negatively charged ion called an anion. An atom that has lost one or more electrons becomes a positively charged ion called a cation.
Ion is formed when an atom loses an electron?
Yes, an ion is formed when an atom either loses or gains an electron, resulting in a net positive or negative charge, respectively. When an atom loses an electron, it becomes a positively charged ion, known as a cation.
When acids in water what positive ion is produced in excess?
When acids in water hydrogen positive ion is produced in excess. It is this hydrogen positive ion that gives acidity of a solution.
An atom that gains electrons and therefore forms a negative ion is known as a?
If an atom gains an electron it has a net negative charge and is known as an anion. A ion has a single atom which is atomic or monatomic.
What cause ionic bond?
A positive ion is attracted to a negative ion.
What is an attraction between a positive ion and a negative ion?
they will attract if they have equal and opposite charges, such as Na and Cl
Does the attraction between a positive ion and a negative ion results in a covalent bond?
No, the attraction between a positive ion and a negative ion results in an ionic bond, not a covalent bond. In an ionic bond, electrons are transferred from one atom to another, while in a covalent bond, electrons are shared between atoms.
What do ionic bonds form between a ion with a posative charge and a ion with negative charge?
Ionic bonds form between ions with opposite charges, such as a positive ion (cation) and a negative ion (anion). The positive ion is attracted to the negative ion, resulting in the formation of a strong electrostatic bond between them. This attraction helps to stabilize the ions and create a stable compound.
What happens if a positive ion is attracted to a negative ion?
If a positive ion is attracted to a negative ion, they will come together and form an ionic bond. This bond is formed by the electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions. This bond is typically strong and stable.
Is KClO4 is an ionic or covalent bond?
KClO4 has an ionic bond. In this compound, potassium (K) donates its electron to form a positive ion, while the perchlorate ion (ClO4) gains that electron to form a negative ion. The attraction between the positive and negative ions creates the ionic bond in KClO4.
What is attraction between two oppositely changed ions called?
The attraction between two oppositely charged ions is called ionic bond. This happens when one atom gives up an electron (forming a positive ion) and another atom gains that electron (forming a negative ion), resulting in an electrostatic attraction between them.
What is positive ion and negative ion in NACl?
Na is positive ion,Cl is negative ion
What caused an ionic bond?
A positive ion is attracted to a negative ion.
The distance between centres of positive and negative ion in ionic crystals?
The distance between centers of positive and negative ion in the ionic crystals vary from one structure to another.
What type of chemical bond forms between negative and positive ion?
Ionic bonds form between positive and negative ions.
What is the difference between the formation of a positive ion and a negative ion?
positive ion forms when any electron removes from an atom and an anion called negative ion forms when an atom accepts an additional electron
