Final answer:
Ionic bonds form between metals and non-metals through the transfer of electrons, resulting in the formation of a cation and an anion held together by electrostatic attraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ionic bonds form between metals and non-metals. These bonds result from the transfer of electrons, where the metal atom becomes a positively charged cation, and the non-metal atom becomes a negatively charged anion. The electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions, cations, and anions, is the basis of the ionic bond. One common example of an ionic bond is the formation of sodium chloride (table salt), where a sodium ion (Na+) and a chloride ion (Cl-) combine to form a stable, crystalline molecule with zero net charge.
Another example is the formation of magnesium oxide (MgO) where magnesium (Mg) loses two electrons to become Mg²+, and oxygen (O) gains two electrons to become O²-. This process results in a compound that exhibits the classic characteristics of an ionic bond, with a strong electrostatic attraction holding the ions together in a crystal lattice.