Ionic Bonding: Which statement best describes ionic bonding?

Study for the Georgia High School Physical Science Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, detailed hints and explanations included. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Ionic Bonding: Which statement best describes ionic bonding?

Explanation:
Ionic bonding happens when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating ions with opposite charges that attract each other. Typically, a metal loses electrons to become a positively charged ion, while a nonmetal gains electrons to become a negatively charged ion. The strong electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions holds the compound together in a crystal lattice. This is different from sharing electrons in covalent bonds, where atoms share electrons rather than transfer them, and from metallic bonding, which involves a sea of delocalized electrons around metal cations.

Ionic bonding happens when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating ions with opposite charges that attract each other. Typically, a metal loses electrons to become a positively charged ion, while a nonmetal gains electrons to become a negatively charged ion. The strong electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions holds the compound together in a crystal lattice. This is different from sharing electrons in covalent bonds, where atoms share electrons rather than transfer them, and from metallic bonding, which involves a sea of delocalized electrons around metal cations.

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