Ionic bonding is perhaps the easiest to describe and visualize. It is always found in
compounds that are composed of both metallic and nonmetallic elements, elements
that are situated at the horizontal extremities of the periodic table.Atoms of a metallic
element easily give up their valence electrons to the nonmetallic atoms. In the
process all the atoms acquire stable or inert gas configurations and, in addition, an
electrical charge; that is, they become ions. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is the classic ionic
material. A sodium atom can assume the electron structure of neon (and a net single