Humber Admissions Practice Test

What happens during the formation of an ionic bond?

1. Electrons are shared equally

2. Electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another

3. Atoms repel each other

4. Atoms form covalent bonds

The correct answer is: Electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another

During the formation of an ionic bond, electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another. This process occurs between atoms that have significantly different electronegativities, usually involving a metal and a non-metal. In this interaction, the metal atom, which has a tendency to lose electrons due to its lower electronegativity, transfers one or more of its electrons to the non-metal atom. The non-metal, having a higher electronegativity, gains these electrons, becoming negatively charged in the process. Meanwhile, the metal atom becomes positively charged after losing electrons. This transfer of electrons results in the formation of oppositely charged ions, which are attracted to each other due to electrostatic forces, establishing a strong ionic bond. The other choices misrepresent the nature of ionic bonding. For instance, equal sharing of electrons is characteristic of covalent bonds, where no transfer occurs. Atoms repelling each other does not apply to ionic bonds, as they are typically attracted. Lastly, the formation of covalent bonds indicates another type of bond where electrons are shared rather than transferred, which is not the case in ionic bonding.