Binary ionic compound

A binary ionic compound contains ions of two different elements, commonly a metal and a non-metal. Electrons are transferred rather than shared: the metal atom loses electron or electrons and becomes a positive ion, while the non-metal atom gains them and becomes a negative ion.

A binary ionic compound contains just two elements: a metal and a non-metal. Examples include sodium chloride, zinc chloride and lead(II) bromide. The metal has formed positive ions and the non-metal has formed negative ions.