Final answer:
Electrons are transferred from metals to nonmetals during the formation of ionic compounds, leading to electron transfer and ionic bonding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electrons are transferred from metals to nonmetals during the formation of ionic compounds. This process involves electron transfer, creating ions: metals lose electrons and become cations, while nonmetals gain those electrons to become anions. One common example of such electron transfer is when metallic sodium reacts with chlorine gas to form sodium chloride, a typical ionic compound.
The transfer of electrons leads to the creation of ionic bonds. Ionic bonding occurs when there is a significant difference in electronegativity between a metal and a nonmetal, leading to the complete transfer of electrons rather than the sharing of electrons, as seen in covalent bonds. Metals, having lower electronegativity, readily donate electrons, while nonmetals with higher electronegativity tend to accept electrons.