Ionic Bonds: At the other extreme from the covalent bond lies the ionic bond. In the simplest case, two adjacent atoms may both have an available electron to contribute to a bond, but one atom is able to gain stability by taking them both for itself, thereby gaining an extra electron (negative charge). This will leave the other atom minus one electron (positive charge), which makes it more stable as well. Such is the case with common salt, sodium chlo- ride, which does not exist as covalently bonded molecules, Na-Cl, but as posi- tively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions, NafC1-. These oppositely charged ions are attracted to one another electrostatically but can exist independently since nothing is shared (like the opposite poles of two different mag- nets). Such electrostatic attractions are involved in dyeing with acid and basic dyes (see the appropriate chapter) where fiber molecules can carry charges opposite to those of the dye ions being applied, and because of this, attract them.