An ionic bond is formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating a cation and anion. Which statement best defines this bond?

An ionic bond is formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating a cation and anion. Which statement best defines this bond?

• A. Electrons are shared equally between atoms.
• B. Ionic bonds are formed by sharing electrons between two atoms.
• C. Electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating a cation and anion.
• D. Ionic bonds occur only between noble gases.

Answer: (C)

Ionic bonding happens when one atom donates electrons to another, creating positively charged cations and negatively charged anions that are held together by electrostatic attraction. The statement is the best definition because it captures both the electron transfer and the resulting charged species that stick together. Sharing electrons describes covalent bonds, not ionic. The idea of forming bonds by transferring electrons isn’t about noble gases, which are typically inert and don’t form ionic bonds. A classic example is salt, where sodium donates an electron to chlorine, giving Na+ and Cl− that attract each other.

Ionic bonding happens when one atom donates electrons to another, creating positively charged cations and negatively charged anions that are held together by electrostatic attraction. The statement is the best definition because it captures both the electron transfer and the resulting charged species that stick together. Sharing electrons describes covalent bonds, not ionic. The idea of forming bonds by transferring electrons isn’t about noble gases, which are typically inert and don’t form ionic bonds. A classic example is salt, where sodium donates an electron to chlorine, giving Na+ and Cl− that attract each other.