Final answer:
Ionic bonding is caused by the electromagnetic force, which attracts ions with opposite charges to each other, such as in table salt. Therefore, the correct answer is b) Electromagnetic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force responsible for ionic bonding is the electromagnetic force. Ionic bonds occur when atoms transfer electrons from one to another, creating ions with positive and negative charges. The positive and negative ions are then attracted to each other due to the electromagnetic force, which includes both electric and magnetic forces. This attraction keeps the ions together in an ionic compound.
For example, table salt (NaCl) is formed when sodium (Na) loses an electron to become Na+, and chlorine (Cl) gains an electron to become Cl-. The resulting positive sodium ion and negative chloride ion are held together by the electromagnetic force.
It's important to distinguish this from the other fundamental forces such as gravity, which is responsible for the structure of galaxies, or the strong nuclear force, which holds an atom's nucleus together.