What are the attractions between anions and cations in a crystal known as?

The attractions between anions and cations in a crystal are known as ionic bonds. Ionic bonds form when atoms transfer electrons from one to another, resulting in the formation of charged ions. Anions are negatively charged ions that gain electrons, while cations are positively charged ions that lose electrons. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions is what constitutes an ionic bond.

In a crystal lattice, these ionic bonds help create a stable structure that maximizes the interaction between the cations and anions, leading to the formation of a solid with distinct physical properties such as high melting and boiling points. This is a fundamental characteristic of ionic compounds, differentiating them from compounds formed by covalent or metallic bonds, which involve sharing of electrons or a sea of electrons among atoms, respectively, and do not operate on the principle of oppositely charged ions attracting each other.