Which statement describes ionic bond formation?

Which statement describes ionic bond formation?

• A. Covalent bonds between metal and nonmetal
• B. Ionic bonds between metal and nonmetal
• C. Metallic bonds between metal atoms
• D. Hydrogen bonds between nonmetals

Answer: (B)

Ionic bonds form when a metal donates electrons to a nonmetal, creating charged ions that are held together by strong electrostatic attraction. The metal’s electrons move completely to the nonmetal, so you end up with positively charged cations and negatively charged anions. Because of the large difference in electronegativity between metals and nonmetals, the transfer is favored rather than sharing. The resulting compound typically forms a crystal lattice with strong ionic bonds throughout, giving it a high melting point and the ability to conduct electricity when melted or dissolved. This contrasts with covalent bonding, which involves sharing electrons and usually occurs between nonmetals with similar electronegativities. Metallic bonding involves a 'sea' of delocalized electrons around metal atoms, not the formation of discrete ion pairs. Hydrogen bonding is an intermolecular attraction between molecules (such as between a hydrogen attached to O, N, or F and a lone pair on another electronegative atom), not the formation of ionic bonds within a compound.

Ionic bonds form when a metal donates electrons to a nonmetal, creating charged ions that are held together by strong electrostatic attraction. The metal’s electrons move completely to the nonmetal, so you end up with positively charged cations and negatively charged anions. Because of the large difference in electronegativity between metals and nonmetals, the transfer is favored rather than sharing. The resulting compound typically forms a crystal lattice with strong ionic bonds throughout, giving it a high melting point and the ability to conduct electricity when melted or dissolved.

This contrasts with covalent bonding, which involves sharing electrons and usually occurs between nonmetals with similar electronegativities. Metallic bonding involves a 'sea' of delocalized electrons around metal atoms, not the formation of discrete ion pairs. Hydrogen bonding is an intermolecular attraction between molecules (such as between a hydrogen attached to O, N, or F and a lone pair on another electronegative atom), not the formation of ionic bonds within a compound.