Which description best characterizes ionic bonding?

• A. Nonmetal (donates) + metal (accepts)
• B. Nonmetal + nonmetal sharing electrons
• C. Metal (donates) + nonmetal (accepts)
• D. Metallic bond due to delocalized electrons

Answer: (C)

Ionic bonding arises when electrons are transferred from a metal to a nonmetal, creating ions that are held together by strong electrostatic attraction. The metal loses electrons, becoming positively charged, while the nonmetal gains electrons, becoming negatively charged. This transfer leads to a lattice of oppositely charged ions, which is why ionic compounds tend to have high melting points and are typically brittle.

The description that best fits this is metal donates electrons and nonmetal accepts them, because it captures the essential electron transfer and resulting oppositely charged ions. In contrast, sharing electrons between two nonmetals describes covalent bonding, and a bond formed by delocalized electrons among metals describes metallic bonding.