Ionic bonding

(pronounced ahy-on-ik)

An ionic reaction is where oppositely charged atoms (ions) are attracted to each other,

IONIC - ATTRACTED

When they are attracted to each other they form an ionic bond.

Note: Covalent bonding is sharing an electron, ionic bonding is attraction of two oppositely charged atoms.

To remember what ionic bonding is, recall the following mnemonic:

The iconic (ionic) man attracted lots of women.

To get more technical iconic is the electrostatic force of attraction between a positively charged atom and a negatively charged atom.