Which type of bond is typically created between atoms of high differing electronegativity?

• A. Covalent bond
• B. Hydrogen bond
• C. Ionic bond
• D. Metallic bond

Answer: (C)

The bond that is typically formed between atoms with high differences in electronegativity is an ionic bond. In ionic bonding, one atom donates one or more of its electrons to another atom, resulting in the formation of positively and negatively charged ions. This process occurs when the electronegativity difference between the two atoms is significant enough that one atom, often a metal, completely transfers electrons to another atom, usually a non-metal.

The resulting electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions holds them together in an ionic compound. This is characteristic of ionic bonds, which generally form between elements found on opposite sides of the periodic table. For instance, sodium (Na) donates an electron to chlorine (Cl) to form NaCl (table salt), with sodium becoming Na⁺ and chlorine becoming Cl⁻.

In contrast, covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms with similar electronegativities, while metallic bonds involve the pooling of electrons in a "sea of electrons" among metal atoms. Hydrogen bonds, while important in biological systems, are a weaker type of intermolecular attraction rather than true bonds formed between atoms in a compound. Thus, the dominant type of bond between atoms of high differing electronegativity is