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. An ionic bond involves the sharing of electrons between atoms, while a covalent bond involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
• C. Both ionic and covalent bonds involve the sharing of protons between atoms.
• 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. Eliminate incorrect options by checking the definitions: sharing of protons is not a bonding mechanism, and ionic bonds typically form between metals and nonmetals, not only nonmetals.
5. Conclude that the best description is that ionic bonds involve electron transfer, while covalent bonds involve electron sharing.