What is ionic bonding?

• A. Covalent sharing of electrons
• B. Involve the transfer of an electron from one atom to another atom and the subsequent attraction between the two ions of the opposite charge
• C. Electron delocalization in metals
• D. Formation of covalent network crystals

Answer: (B)

Ionic bonding happens when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating ions that are held together by electrostatic attraction. A metal atom often donates one or more electrons to a nonmetal, forming a positively charged cation and a negatively charged anion. The opposite charges attract strongly, locking the ions into a solid lattice. This differs from covalent bonding, where electrons are shared between atoms; from metallic bonding, where electrons are delocalized in a “sea” around metal ions; and from covalent network crystals, where atoms are linked by a continuous network of covalent bonds. A classic example is a salt made from sodium and chlorine: Na transfers an electron to Cl, producing Na+ and Cl− that stick together due to their opposite charges. Ionic compounds typically have high melting points and conduct electricity when melted or dissolved.