Question detail

Which of the following best describes the formation of an ionic lattice?

Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.

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At a glance

MCQ

Type

practice

Style

Topic

Bonding

Question

A. Ions arrange themselves in a random pattern
B. Ions form a regular, repeating arrangement due to electrostatic forces
C. Ions repel each other and remain isolated
D. Ions form covalent bonds to create a lattice

Answer

Ions form a regular, repeating arrangement due to electrostatic forces

Explanation

An ionic lattice forms when ions arrange themselves in a regular, repeating pattern, maximizing the attractive forces between oppositely charged ions while minimizing repulsion.

Common mistake

Misunderstanding Ionic Bonding

Students often confuse ionic bonding with covalent bonding, thinking that ionic bonds involve shared electrons instead of electrostatic attraction.

Ionic bonding is defined as the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. To clarify, remember that in ionic bonding, electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of positive and negative ions. For example, in sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium (Na) loses an electron to become Na⁺, while chlorine (Cl) gains an electron to become Cl⁻. The attraction between Na⁺ and Cl⁻ forms the ionic bond.

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