Question 19

An electron is transferred from one atom to another.

Ionic bonds form through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the creation of positively and negatively charged ions that attract each other.

A) Two ions share several pairs of electrons.

This option describes a covalent bond rather than an ionic bond. In an ionic bond, electrons are not shared; instead, they are completely transferred from one atom to another, leading to ionic character rather than covalent sharing.

B) Two atoms have an electrostatic attraction to an adjacent hydrogen atom that binds them together.

This option does not accurately describe ionic bonding. While electrostatic attraction is a characteristic of ionic bonds, this description incorrectly implies that the bond involves hydrogen and does not mention the transfer of electrons, which is central to ionic bond formation.

C) An electron is transferred from one atom to another.

This option correctly describes the formation of an ionic bond. The process involves one atom losing an electron and another atom gaining that electron, resulting in the formation of ions that attract each other due to opposite charges.

D) The nuclei of two atoms fuse together to form a single molecule.

This option refers to nuclear fusion, a process unrelated to ionic bonding. Ionic bonds do not involve the fusion of atomic nuclei; rather, they depend on the transfer of electrons and the resulting electrostatic attraction between ions.

Conclusion

The correct answer, C, accurately depicts the fundamental mechanism behind ionic bond formation, emphasizing the electron transfer between atoms. All other options either misrepresent the nature of ionic bonds or refer to unrelated bonding concepts, thereby failing to capture the essence of how ionic bonds are created.