Atoms that form bonds through the donation and acceptance of electrons create which type of bond?

Atoms that form bonds through the donation and acceptance of electrons create ionic bonds. In an ionic bond, one atom transfers one or more electrons to another atom, leading to the formation of charged ions. For instance, when sodium (Na) donates an electron, it becomes a positively charged ion (Na+), while chlorine (Cl) accepts that electron, becoming a negatively charged ion (Cl-). The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions forms a strong bond known as an ionic bond.

This type of bond is characteristic of the interaction between metals and nonmetals where the metal tends to lose electrons and the nonmetal tends to gain them. Ionic compounds typically have high melting and boiling points, and they conduct electricity when dissolved in water or melted due to the movement of the ions. Understanding this mechanism is key to grasping how various substances interact and form compounds in chemistry.