Which statement about ionic bonds is true?

Which statement about ionic bonds is true?

• A. In ionic bonds, atoms share electrons.
• B. Ionic bonds are formed by metallic bonding.
• C. Ionic bonds are formed by covalent sharing.
• D. Ionic bonds are held together by electrostatic attraction between cations and anions.

Answer: (D)

Ionic bonding arises from the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. When a metal atom loses electrons and becomes a positively charged cation, and a nonmetal atom gains those electrons to become a negatively charged anion, the opposite charges attract strongly and hold the ions together in a lattice. This is different from sharing electrons (covalent bonding), where electrons are dispersed between atoms, and different from metallic bonding, where a “sea” of delocalized electrons bonds metal atoms. So the statement that ionic bonds are held together by electrostatic attraction between cations and anions accurately captures the true nature of ionic bonding.

Ionic bonding arises from the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. When a metal atom loses electrons and becomes a positively charged cation, and a nonmetal atom gains those electrons to become a negatively charged anion, the opposite charges attract strongly and hold the ions together in a lattice. This is different from sharing electrons (covalent bonding), where electrons are dispersed between atoms, and different from metallic bonding, where a “sea” of delocalized electrons bonds metal atoms. So the statement that ionic bonds are held together by electrostatic attraction between cations and anions accurately captures the true nature of ionic bonding.