Humber Admissions Practice Test

What is a characteristic of ionic compounds?

1. They involve electron sharing

2. They involve electron transfer

3. They consist of equal numbers of charged particles

4. They can be made of two nonmetals

The correct answer is: They involve electron transfer

Ionic compounds are fundamentally characterized by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, which leads to the formation of charged ions. This process typically occurs between metals and nonmetals, where metals, having fewer valence electrons, lose electrons to achieve a stable electronic configuration, ultimately becoming positively charged cations. Conversely, nonmetals gain these electrons, becoming negatively charged anions. This transfer of electrons is a critical aspect of ionic bonding and differentiates ionic compounds from covalent compounds, where atoms share electrons rather than transferring them. The nature of this electron transfer results in the distinct properties of ionic compounds, such as high melting and boiling points, and their ability to conduct electricity when dissolved in water or melted.