Which statement best describes ionic bonds?

• A. They occur when atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds.
• B. They arise from strong forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions.
• C. They form only between atoms of the same element.
• D. They require neutral atoms.

Answer: (B)

Ionic bonds are the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another. This transfer creates a positively charged ion and a negatively charged ion, and the strong attraction between those charges holds the compound together. That description fits best because it centers on the essential interaction—the attraction between ions with opposite charges.

The other ideas describe different bonding. Sharing electrons to form covalent bonds is how covalent bonds work, not ionic. Bonding that occurs mostly between atoms of the same element isn’t how ionic bonds form, which typically involve a metal and a nonmetal. And while compounds can be overall neutral, the atoms involved are not required to be neutral during bond formation—they become ions whose electrostatic attraction creates the bond. For a concrete example, think of table salt, where Na+ and Cl− are held together by this strong electrostatic pull.