Final answer:
Group 1 metals and group 17 nonmetals form compounds through ionic bonding, where the metals lose electrons to form cations and the nonmetals gain electrons to form anions the transfer of electrons from the metal to the nonmetal, creating an electrostatic attraction that holds the ions together in an ionic compound.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compounds formed between group 1 metals (such as sodium, potassium, and lithium) and group 17 nonmetals (such as fluorine, chlorine, and bromine) typically involve ionic bonding. This is because group 1 metals have low electronegativity and tend to lose electrons to achieve a stable octet configuration, forming cations.
On the other hand, group 17 nonmetals have high electronegativity and tend to gain electrons to achieve a stable octet configuration, forming anions. The large difference in electronegativity between the metals and nonmetals results in the transfer of electrons from the metal to the nonmetal, creating an electrostatic attraction that holds the ions together in an ionic compound.