Why can different numbers of metal and nonmetal atoms create ionic bonds together?

Ionic bond is a type of chemical bond that is formed between non-metallic atom(s) and metallic atom(s) as a result of transfer of electrons.
Metallic atom(s) lose electron(s) to form stable ions that are positively charged ions known as cations.
On the other hand, non-metallic atom(s) gain the electron(s) lost by the metallic atoms to form a negatively charged ions known as anions.
The positively charged ions and the negatively charged ions create an electrostatic attraction which results to the formation an ionic bond.
Some metals such as transition elements, copper(Cu) have more than one ions, Cu+ and Cu2+.
Additionally, non-metals such as nitrogen also forms more than one ions, that is, N3+ and N5+. Therefore, different number of metal and non-metal atoms can create ionic bonds together.

adioabiola adioabiola · Answer 2 · 2021-10-02T20:10:18+02:00

Here, we are required to explain why different numbers of metal and non-metal atoms create ionic bonds together.

Different numbers of metal and nonmetal atoms create ionic bonds together because some metals and non-metals can adopt multiple oxidation states.

Ionic bonds are formed between atoms of metals and non-metals, in which case, the metallic atoms completely transfer electrons to the non-metallic atoms in a bid to form stable positively charged ions.

Metallic atoms are electropositive and readily lose electrons to form positively charged ions
Non-metallic atoms are electronegative and readily accept electrons in a bid to form negatively charged ions.

However, the existence of some metals termed the Transition metals which have the ability to adopt various oxidation state such as Cu²+ and Cu¹+, Co²+, Co³+ and Co⁴+. and some non-metals such as Nitrogen which can adopt oxidation states +3 and +5. is the reason for the dynamicity of ionic bond formation.

Therefore, the ability of some metals and non metals to adopt more than one oxidation state is the reason why different numbers of metal and nonmetal atoms create ionic bonds together.

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