Determine whether the following pairs of elements can form ionic compounds.

Question

Nitrogen and Bromine?

Potassium and Sulfur?

Chlorine and Lithium?

Sodium and Magnesium?

Oxygen and Calcium?

Manganese and Chlorine?

Answer 1

Ionic bonds typically form between non-metals and metals. The metals take on a positive charge when they transfer electrons to the more electronegative non-metal. So in your example, potassium and sulfur would for potassium sulfide (K2S), chlorine and lithium would form lithium chloride (LiCl), oxygen and calcium would form calcium oxide (CaO), and Manganese and chlorine would likely form MnCl2. Manganese is a transition metal so other oxidation states are possible.