Which of the following occurs in an ionic bond?
A: Oppositely charged ions attract.
B: Two atoms share two electrons.
C: Two atoms shares more than two electrons.
D: Like-charged ions attract
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is:
A: Oppositely charged ions attract.
Explanation:
An ionic bond is a type of chemical bond that forms between two atoms when one atom donates an electron to another, creating a pair of oppositely charged ions. This type of bond occurs between atoms with significant differences in electronegativity, which is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons. When an atom with a high electronegativity (such as a non-metal) encounters an atom with a low electronegativity (like a metal), the non-metal can attract electrons from the metal. This process results in one atom gaining an electron and becoming a negatively charged ion (anion), while the other loses an electron and becomes a positively charged ion (cation).
The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions forms a stable ionic bond. For example, in sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium (Na) has a tendency to lose one electron, becoming a positively charged sodium ion (Na⁺), while chlorine (Cl) tends to gain an electron, becoming a negatively charged chloride ion (Cl⁻). The positive Na⁺ ion and the negative Cl⁻ ion are attracted to each other, resulting in an ionic bond that holds the compound together.
In contrast to ionic bonding, covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between two atoms, which allows both atoms to achieve stable electron configurations. Options B and C describe characteristics of covalent bonding rather than ionic bonding, where atoms share electrons to fill their outer shells. Option D is incorrect because like-charged ions repel each other rather than attract, as like charges produce repulsive forces.
Ionic bonds are generally strong and create solid crystalline structures, like those seen in salts. These compounds tend to have high melting and boiling points due to the strength of the ionic bonds and require significant energy to break apart. Furthermore, ionic compounds often dissolve in water, where the ions can freely move, allowing the solution to conduct electricity. This ability to conduct electricity in solution is one of the defining properties of ionic compounds, contrasting with covalent compounds, which generally do not conduct electricity in their molecular form.
In summary, an ionic bond results from the attraction between oppositely charged ions, forming stable compounds with distinct properties.