ionic compound

In chemistry, an ionic compound is a chemical compound in which ions are held together in a lattice structure by ionic bonds. The positively charged ion is usually a metal ion and the negatively charged ion is non-metallic element or molecule.Ions can be single atoms, as in common table salt sodium chloride, or more complex groups such as calcium carbonate. But to be considered an ion, they must carry a positive or negative charge. Thus, in an ionic bond, one 'bonder' must have a positive charge and the other a negative one. By sticking to each other, they resolve, or partially resolve, their separate charge imbalances. Positive to positive and negative to negative ionic bonds do not occur. (For a real world analogy, experiment with a pair of bar magnets.)
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Compare with covalent compound and ionic bond .A compound made of distinguishable cations and anions , held together by electrostatic forces.