HAZMAT Technician Practice Exam

The materials defined through the sharing or transfer of electrons are ionic compounds. Ionic compounds are formed when one atom donates an electron to another atom, creating ions that are held together by electrostatic forces of attraction between positively charged cations and negatively charged anions. This transfer of electrons typically occurs between metals and non-metals, leading to a stable electron configuration for both elements involved.

In ionic bonding, the electron transfer results in the formation of charged particles (ions), which is characteristic of ionic compounds. The high melting and boiling points, along with the ability to conduct electricity in a molten state or when dissolved in water, are further indicative of ionic compounds.

Other types of compounds, like covalent and metallic compounds, involve different electron interactions. Covalent compounds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms rather than the complete transfer. Metallic compounds, on the other hand, involve delocalized electrons that allow for conductivity and malleability but do not fit the criteria of electron transfer in the same manner as ionic compounds.

Understanding the nature of ionic compounds helps to clarify the fundamental differences in bonding types and the properties that arise from those bonding types.