What type of substances are involved in ionic bonding?

Ionic bonding primarily involves the interaction between metals and nonmetals. In this type of bonding, metals, which tend to lose electrons, interact with nonmetals, which generally gain electrons. When a metal atom donates one or more electrons to a nonmetal atom, the metal becomes positively charged (a cation), while the nonmetal becomes negatively charged (an anion). The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions creates ionic bonds.

This process is characteristic of the formation of ionic compounds, where the structure consists of a lattice of ions. Common examples include sodium chloride (table salt), formed from sodium (a metal) and chlorine (a nonmetal). The properties of ionic compounds, such as high melting points and electrical conductivity in the molten or dissolved state, stem from this type of bonding between metals and nonmetals.

Understanding that ionic bonding specifically requires both types of elements provides clarity on why other choices, such as nonmetals only, only gases, or organic compounds, do not constitute ionic bonding. Nonmetals alone do not form the ionic characteristic of having both positive and negative ions; gases are not a defining factor of ionic bonding; and organic compounds typically involve covalent bonding rather than ionic interactions.