ABCTE Science Practice Exam 2026 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

An ionic bond is characterized by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another. This process typically occurs between a metal and a nonmetal. In this kind of bond, the metal atom loses one or more electrons, becoming positively charged (a cation), while the nonmetal atom gains those electrons, resulting in a negatively charged ion (anion). The attraction between these oppositely charged ions forms the ionic bond, which is a key feature distinguishing ionic compounds from other types of chemical bonds.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different bonding scenarios. Sharing electrons characterizes covalent bonds, which usually occur between nonmetal atoms. The formation of bonds between two nonmetals is typical of covalent bonding, rather than ionic. Lastly, the concept of covalent interactions does not apply to ionic bonds at all, since they rely on electron transfer rather than electron sharing. Thus, the defining trait of an ionic bond is indeed the transfer of electrons between atoms.