Which of the following best describes the formation of the bond shown in Figure 1, where an electron is transferred from one atom to another?

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

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the types of chemical bonds: Ionic bonds form when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons, metallic bonds involve a 'sea' of delocalized electrons among metal atoms, and hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom.
2. Identify the key phrase in the problem: 'an electron is transferred from one atom to another.' This indicates a complete transfer of electrons rather than sharing.
3. Recall that ionic bonds typically form between metals and nonmetals, where one atom loses electrons to become a cation and the other gains electrons to become an anion, resulting in electrostatic attraction.
4. Compare this with covalent bonds, where electrons are shared, not transferred, and with metallic bonds, where electrons are delocalized rather than transferred between specific atoms.
5. Conclude that the bond described by the transfer of an electron from one atom to another is best described as an ionic bond.