Final answer:
The attractions between anions and cations throughout a crystal are known as ionic bonds, which are formed by the electrical attraction between ions of opposite charges, leading to the creation of neutral crystalline structures. The correct answer is Option D: ionic bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The attractions between anions and cations throughout a crystal are known collectively as ionic bonds. An ionic bond is the electrical attraction that forms between ions with opposite charges, such as the positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions that come together to form sodium chloride, or table salt. This type of bond results in the formation of crystalline structures with an overall neutral charge.
Unlike covalent bonds where electrons are shared between atoms, ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in ions that are held together by the electrostatic forces of their opposite charges. Ionic compounds, such as table salt, exhibit this kind of bonding, characterized by the strong electrostatic attractions between the ions.