How to teach ionic bonding at 14–16

A diagram showing the bonds in an ionic compound

Source: © Royal Society of Chemistry

Steer students away from ionic bonding misconceptions with these ideas for your classroom

When teaching ionic bonding we want our students to understand that it is the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions within a giant lattice of alternating positive and negative ions. However, the way it’s taught in pre-16 courses sometimes leads to confusion. Read this article to dispel misconceptions and help your students better understand this topic.

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor. 

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

  • unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
  • teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
  • applications for funding to support your lessons

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.