Question

Which statement best explains why a metal atom and a nonmetal atom are most likely to form an ionic bond? Metal atoms have low ionization energy, and nonmetal atoms have high electronegativity, so electrons transfer easily from the nonmetal atom to the metal atom. Metal atoms have low ionization energy, and nonmetal atoms have high electronegativity, so electrons transfer easily from the metal atom to the nonmetal atom. Metal atoms have high ionization energy, and nonmetal atoms have low electronegativity, so electrons transfer easily from the nonmetal atom to the metal atom. Metal atoms have high ionization energy, and nonmetal atoms have low electronegativity, so electrons transfer easily from the metal atom to the nonmetal atom.

Answer 1

Ionic bonds are easiest to form when one party has a low ionization energy and the other party has high electronegativity. So the most fitting answer is:

Metal atoms have low ionization energy, and nonmetal atoms have high electronegativity, so electrons transfer easily from the metal atom to the nonmetal atom.

Answer 2

Metal atoms have low ionization energy, and nonmetal atoms have high electronegativity, so electrons transfer easily from the nonmetal atom to the metal atom.

Ionic bonding occurs when valence electrons transfer completely between atoms. The metal atoms having low ionization energy, loses electrons and becomes positively charged. On the other hand, the nonmetal atoms having high electronegativity, accepts the lost electrons and becomes negatively charged.