Question

Which statement provides the best description of an ionic bond?

A. A high electron density between two positively charged atomic nuclei serves to attract the nuclei to each other.
B. The negative charge on one atom is attracted to the positive charge on a second atom.
C. Two or more electrons are attracted to each other, thereby holding the atoms together.
D. Electrons are shared between a pair of atoms.
E. Two atomic nuclei are attracted to each other by the Coulomb force.

Answer 1

An ionic bond is an electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, forming when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in positively and negatively charged ions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that provides the best description of an ionic bond is that it involves the electrostatic attraction that holds ions together in an ionic compound. This type of bond is formed when electrons are transferred between atoms, resulting in a cation (positively charged ion) and an anion (negatively charged ion). The resulting oppositely charged ions are attracted to each other.

The strength of an ionic bond depends on the quantity of the charges and the distance between the ions. A cation with a 2+ charge will form a stronger bond compared to a 1+ charge. Similarly, a larger ion creates a weaker bond due to the increased distance between its electrons and the nucleus of the oppositely charged ion.

Contrasting with ionic bonds, covalent bonds occur when electrons are shared between atoms. Covalent bonding involves the attractive forces between the positively charged nuclei and shared electrons. In summary, while ionic bonds arise from the electrostatic forces between oppositely charged entities, covalent bonds are due to the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.