Zintl phases are intermetallic compounds that have a pronounced ionic bonding character. They are made up of a polyanionic substructure and group 1 or 2 counter ions, and their structure can be understood by a formal electron transfer from the electropositive element to the more electronegative element in their composition. Thus, the valence electron concentration (VEC) of the anionic element is increased, and it formally moves to the right in its row of the periodic table. Generally the anion does not reach an octet, so to reach that closed shell configuration, bonds are formed. The structure can be explained by the 8-N rule (replacing the number of valence electrons, N, by VEC), making it comparable to an isovalent element. The formed polyanionic substructures can be chains (two-dimensional), rings, and other two-or three-dimensional networks or molecule-like entities.
The Zintl line is a hypothetical boundary drawn between groups 13 and 14. It separates the columns based on the tendency for group 13 elements to form metals when reacted with electropositive group 1 or 2 elements and for group 14 and above to form ionic solids. The typical salts formed in these reactions become more metallic as the main group element becomes heavier.