Editing Ionic bonding (section)

==Overview==
Atoms that have an almost full or almost empty [[valence shell]] tend to be very [[chemical reaction|reactive]]. Strongly electronegative atoms (such as [[halogens]]) often have only one or two empty electron states in their [[valence shell]], and frequently [[chemical bond|bond]] with other atoms or gain electrons to form [[anions]]. Weakly electronegative atoms (such as [[alkali metals]]) have relatively few [[Valence electron|valence electrons]], which can easily be lost to strongly electronegative atoms. As a result, weakly electronegative atoms tend to distort their [[electron cloud]] and form [[cations]].

=== Properties of ionic bonds ===

* They are considered to be among the '''strongest''' of all types of chemical bonds. This often causes ionic compounds to be very stable.
* Ionic bonds have '''high [[bond energy]]'''. Bond energy is the mean amount of energy required to break the bond in the gaseous state.
* Most ionic compounds exist in the form of a '''[[crystal]] structure''', in which the ions occupy the corners of the crystal. Such a structure is called a [[Crystal structure|crystal lattice]].
* Ionic compounds '''lose their crystal lattice structure''' and break up into ions when dissolved in [[water]] or any other [[Polar solvent|polar]] solvent. This process is called solvation. The presence of these free ions makes aqueous ionic compound solutions good conductors of electricity. The same occurs when the compounds are heated above their [[melting point]] in a process known as [[melting]].