Examples of ionic substances

Sodium chloride NaCl (salt)

The sodium and chloride ions attract each other.

Sodium gives its extra electron to chlorine to form a sodium cation and a chloride anion.

The sodium and chloride ions attract each other like magnets and are joined by an ionic bond.

The two ions attract like magnets and are joined by an ionic bond.

When calcium and chlorine react, the calcium atom transfers one electron to each of the two chlorine atoms.

diagram showing how molecules attract ions

This results in one positive calcium ion and two negative chloride ions. The ions now attract like magnets, forming two ionic bonds.