This pull holds<span> the sodium atom near the chlorine atom, making a molecule of </span>salt<span> - one of the most stable molecules on Earth. Most of the solid things in the universe - like rocks - use </span>ionic<span> bonds to </span>hold<span> themselves </span>together<span>. That's because those same electric </span>forces<span> affect other nearby molecules of </span>salt<span> as well</span>
Salts are made up of positive metal ions and negative non-metal ions. The electrostatic force of attraction between the two opposite charges keeps the ions in the salt together.
The group VIA elements are called chalcogens because most ores of copper (Greek chalkos) are oxides or sulfides, and such ores contain traces of selenium and tellurium.
