IGCSE›Oxford AQA IGCSE Chemistry›Mind mapsIonic BondingOxford AQA IGCSE Chemistry: Mind mapStudy pack PDFAlso for this subtopic:Revision notesFlashcardsSubtopic testCover factsTransferBetween a metal and a non-metalMetal loses electrons: positive cationNon-metal gains electrons: negative anionBoth reach a noble-gas arrangementCharge and groupGroup 1: +1Group 2: +2Group 6: −2Group 7: −1Ionic bondingelectron transferNaX+\ce{Na+}NaX+ClX−\ce{Cl-}ClX−Writing ionsSymbol with charge as superscriptNaX+\ce{Na+}NaX+ lost one electronMgX2+\ce{Mg^2+}MgX2+ lost two electronsClX−\ce{Cl-}ClX− gained one electronPatternsGroups 1–3 form positive ions equal to group numberGroups 5–7 form negative ions of 8 − groupAlkali metals form +1 ionsHalogens form −1 ionsExam tipsSay electrons are transferred, not sharedIons have the electrons of the nearest noble gas