Metal-Nonmetal Reactions Forming Salts

When a metal reacts with a non-metal, the two elements usually form a salt through the transfer

of electrons. A simple example of this is the reaction between sodium and chlorine.

Sodium atoms each give up one electron, forming positively charged sodium ions, while chlorine molecules

split and each atom accepts one electron, forming negatively charged chloride ions.

Because opposite charges attract, these ions arrange themselves into a solid ionic crystal—table

salt, or sodium chloride. The same principle shows up in the reaction between

magnesium and oxygen. Magnesium atoms lose two electrons to become Mg²⁺ ions, while oxygen molecules

gain a total of four electrons to form two O²⁻ ions. Together, these ions combine