International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Chemistry Practice Exam

What term describes the electrostatic attraction between positively and negatively charged ions?

1. Covalent bond

2. Electrostatic force

3. Ionic bond

4. Hydrogen bond

The correct answer is: Ionic bond

The term that describes the electrostatic attraction between positively and negatively charged ions is known as an ionic bond. This type of bond occurs when one atom transfers electrons to another, resulting in the formation of ions. The atom that loses electrons becomes positively charged (cation), while the atom that gains electrons becomes negatively charged (anion). The strong attractive forces between these oppositely charged ions create the ionic bond, which is a fundamental concept in chemistry, particularly in the formation of ionic compounds. Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms rather than the transfer that results in charged ions. Electrostatic force is a broader term that refers to any interaction between charged particles but does not specifically denote the bond formed by ionic interactions. Hydrogen bonds are a type of weak attraction that occurs between molecules, particularly where hydrogen is involved, but do not relate to the electrostatic attractive forces seen in ionic compounds.