Which of the following best describes the difference between an ionic bond and a covalent bond?

• A. An ionic bond involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, while a covalent bond involves the sharing of electrons between atoms.
• B. Both ionic and covalent bonds involve the sharing of protons between atoms.
• C. An ionic bond involves the sharing of electrons between atoms, while a covalent bond involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
• D. Ionic bonds only occur between nonmetals, while covalent bonds only occur between metals.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the nature of chemical bonds: Chemical bonds form to achieve more stable electron configurations for atoms.
2. Recall that an ionic bond is formed when one atom transfers one or more electrons to another atom, resulting in positively and negatively charged ions that attract each other.
3. Recognize that a covalent bond is formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons to fill their outer electron shells.
4. Note that protons are not shared or transferred in bonding; bonding involves electrons, which are the outermost particles responsible for chemical interactions.
5. Use this understanding to evaluate the given options and identify that the correct description is that ionic bonds involve electron transfer, while covalent bonds involve electron sharing.