Final answer:
In an ionic bond, electrons are transferred from a metal atom to a nonmetal atom. The metal atom donates electrons to form a positive ion, while the nonmetal atom gains electrons to form a negative ion. These ions are then attracted to each other.
Step-by-step explanation:
In an ionic bond, electrons are transferred from a metal atom to a nonmetal atom.
When the difference in electronegativity between two atoms is large, as is the case between metals and nonmetals, the bonding is characterized as ionic. The metal atom donates one or more electrons to form a positive ion or cation, while the nonmetal atom gains these electrons to form a negative ion or anion. The two ions are then attracted to each other by electrostatic forces.
An example of an ionic bond is the combination of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) to form sodium chloride (NaCl).