Under which condition will oppositely charged atoms form a stable chemical bond?

• A. When they transfer electrons to form an ionic bond
• B. When they are both noble gases
• C. When they have identical electronegativities
• D. When they share electrons equally to form a nonpolar covalent bond

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that oppositely charged atoms refer to ions with positive and negative charges, typically formed when atoms lose or gain electrons.
2. Recall that a stable chemical bond between oppositely charged atoms is usually an ionic bond, which forms when one atom transfers electrons to another, resulting in positive and negative ions that attract each other.
3. Recognize that noble gases are generally inert and do not form bonds easily because they have full valence electron shells, so they are unlikely to form stable bonds with oppositely charged atoms.
4. Note that atoms with identical electronegativities tend to share electrons equally, forming nonpolar covalent bonds, which do not involve transfer of electrons or formation of ions.
5. Conclude that the condition for oppositely charged atoms to form a stable chemical bond is when they transfer electrons to form an ionic bond.