2. Which of the following is the best description of how electrons are transferred in an ionic bond? A. A metal atom loses electrons and a nonmetal atom gains electrons. B. A metal atom gains electrons and a nonmetal atom loses electrons. C. Ametal and a nonmetal atom lose electrons. D. A metal and a nonmetal atom gain electrons.

## Step 1<br />Ionic bonding is a type of chemical bond that involves the complete transfer of electrons from one atom to another. This transfer of electrons results in the formation of ions, which are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost one or more electrons, giving them a net positive or negative charge.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />In an ionic bond, a metal atom loses electrons to become a positively charged cation. This is because metals have a tendency to lose electrons due to their low electronegativity.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />On the other hand, a nonmetal atom gains these electrons to become a negatively charged anion. This is because nonmetals have a high electronegativity, which means they have a strong tendency to attract electrons.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />The attraction between the oppositely charged ions (the cation and the anion) forms the ionic bond. This bond is characterized by the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged metal ion and the negatively charged nonmetal ion.