Which statement accurately describes ionic bonding?

Which statement accurately describes ionic bonding?

• A. It involves sharing electron pairs between two non-metals.
• B. It is formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, creating ions held by electrostatic attraction.
• C. It arises from the attraction between molecules held together by hydrogen bonds.
• D. It results from the transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal, forming ions held together by electrostatic attraction.

Answer: (D)

Ionic bonding comes from transferring electrons from a metal to a non-metal, creating ions with opposite charges that are held together by electrostatic attraction. Metals tend to lose electrons to form positive ions, while non-metals gain electrons to form negative ions. The resulting cations and anions attract each other strongly, building a solid lattice with high melting points and the ability to conduct electricity when melted or dissolved. The other ideas describe different interactions: sharing electrons between non-metals forms covalent bonds, and hydrogen bonds are weaker attractions between molecules rather than the strong ionic lattice. The most precise description of ionic bonding is the transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal, forming ions held together by electrostatic attraction.

Ionic bonding comes from transferring electrons from a metal to a non-metal, creating ions with opposite charges that are held together by electrostatic attraction. Metals tend to lose electrons to form positive ions, while non-metals gain electrons to form negative ions. The resulting cations and anions attract each other strongly, building a solid lattice with high melting points and the ability to conduct electricity when melted or dissolved.

The other ideas describe different interactions: sharing electrons between non-metals forms covalent bonds, and hydrogen bonds are weaker attractions between molecules rather than the strong ionic lattice. The most precise description of ionic bonding is the transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal, forming ions held together by electrostatic attraction.