Why an iron ion is attracted to a sulfide ion but not to a zinc ion?
The iron ion is formed when iron loans out an electron or electrons. The sulfide ion is formed when it borrows electrons. Atoms (elements) that want to loan electrons out are attracted to atoms (elements) that want to borrow them. Makes perfect sense when you think about it. Zinc is a metal like iron, and it, too wants to loan out electrons. Atoms (elements) that want to loan out electrons are not attracted to other atoms (elements) that want to loan out electrons. Same for atoms (elements) that want to borrow them. They are not attracted to each other, either.
