Which statement about ionic bonds is true?

Which statement about ionic bonds is true?

• A. They involve the sharing of electrons between atoms.
• B. They form between nonmetals.
• C. They require similar electronegativities.
• D. They result from the transfer of electrons between atoms.

Answer: (D)

Ionic bonds arise from the transfer of electrons between atoms, creating ions that are held together by electrostatic attraction. When a metal donates one or more electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion, and a nonmetal that gains those electrons becomes a negatively charged ion. The attraction between these opposite charges pulls the ions into a strong bond, forming compounds like table salt. This is different from sharing electrons, which describes covalent bonds, and it explains why ionic bonds typically form between metals and nonmetals and require a significant difference in electronegativity.

Ionic bonds arise from the transfer of electrons between atoms, creating ions that are held together by electrostatic attraction. When a metal donates one or more electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion, and a nonmetal that gains those electrons becomes a negatively charged ion. The attraction between these opposite charges pulls the ions into a strong bond, forming compounds like table salt. This is different from sharing electrons, which describes covalent bonds, and it explains why ionic bonds typically form between metals and nonmetals and require a significant difference in electronegativity.