Answer:
Aluminium fluoride is an ionic compound and the formation of the compound involves ionic bonding between positively-charged aluminium ions and negatively-charged fluoride ions.
Explanation:
Aluminium fluoride is an ionic compound and the formation of the compound involves ionic bonding between positively-charged aluminium ions and negatively-charged fluoride ions.
Ionic bonds are formed between two oppositely charged ions which are held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction.
In the formation of aluminium fluoride, aluminium being a metal gives up its electrons to form the aluminium ion. Aluminium has three valence electrons which it gives up to the aluminium ion, Al³+. Fluorine, being a non-metal forms ions by accepting electrons to form the fluoride ion, F-. Fluorine has a valency of 1, hence, each fluorine atom can only accept one electron to form fluoride ions. Therefore, three fluorine atoms are required to accept the three electrons from an aluminium atoms.
With the formation of the aluminium and fluoride ions, the ions are then held together in the compound by the strong electrostatic forces of attrcation between the charges on the ions. Thus, the compound aluminium fluoride is formed.
