- Ionic bonding is a type of chemical bonding that involves the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, or between two atoms with sharply different electronegativities, and is the primary interaction occurring in ionic compounds. It is one of the main types of bonding, along with covalent bonding and metallic bonding. Ions are atoms (or groups of atoms) with an electrostatic charge. Atoms that gain electrons make negatively charged ions (called anions). Atoms that lose electrons make positively charged ions (called cations). This transfer of electrons is known as electrovalence in contrast to covalence. In the simplest case, the cation is a metal atom and the anion is a nonmetal atom, but these ions can be more complex, e.g. polyatomic ions like NH^+4 or SO2-^4. In simpler words, an ionic bond results from the transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal to obtain a full valence shell for both atoms.
- Mount Baker (wa100.dnr.wa.gov)
Mount Baker is the star of the North Cascades, a beautiful ice-capped volcanic peak. While its southerly neighbor, Glacier Peak, hides along the ridgeline of the Cascade Range, Mount Baker is bold and distinctly visible across Puget Sound and into Canada. The volcano has been active in historic times, including several small blasts and steam events in the 1800s. Increased heat output from Sherman Crater in 1975 put the whole region on alert. Though the mountain stands quiet and pristine today, continued hydrothermal activity at Sherman Crater is a constant reminder of an active volcano underneath a snowy mantle. Visit Mount Baker for the unique experience of skiing on the slopes of a volcano. Enjoy boating on Baker Lake, hiking on glacier fields, or just stop to take in some incredible views of the Cascades crest, including nearby Mount Shuksan to the east. Mount Baker itself also has plenty of picture-perfect scenery to share.