Which statement correctly describes electron transfer in ionic bonding?

Which statement correctly describes electron transfer in ionic bonding?

• A. Electrons are equally shared between two nonmetals
• B. Electrons are donated from nonmetal to metal
• C. Electrons are transferred from metal to nonmetal
• D. Electrons are not involved in the bond

Answer: (C)

In ionic bonding, electron transfer from a metal to a nonmetal is what holds the compound together. Metals have low ionization energy and readily lose electrons to form positive ions, while nonmetals have high electron affinity and gain electrons to complete their valence shells, becoming negative ions. Once these oppositely charged ions are created, they attract each other strongly through electrostatic forces, forming the ionic bond and typically a solid lattice. This mechanism is distinct from covalent bonding, where electrons are shared rather than transferred, and it’s not accurate to say electrons aren’t involved at all. A classic example is sodium chloride, where sodium donates an electron to chlorine, producing Na+ and Cl− that stay bound by ionic attraction.

In ionic bonding, electron transfer from a metal to a nonmetal is what holds the compound together. Metals have low ionization energy and readily lose electrons to form positive ions, while nonmetals have high electron affinity and gain electrons to complete their valence shells, becoming negative ions. Once these oppositely charged ions are created, they attract each other strongly through electrostatic forces, forming the ionic bond and typically a solid lattice. This mechanism is distinct from covalent bonding, where electrons are shared rather than transferred, and it’s not accurate to say electrons aren’t involved at all. A classic example is sodium chloride, where sodium donates an electron to chlorine, producing Na+ and Cl− that stay bound by ionic attraction.