What type of bond involves the attraction between oppositely charged ions?

The correct answer is the ionic bond, which is characterized by the attraction between oppositely charged ions. An ionic bond forms when one atom donates an electron to another atom, resulting in the formation of ions. The atom that loses an electron becomes a positively charged ion (cation), while the atom that gains an electron becomes a negatively charged ion (anion). The electrostatic forces between these oppositely charged ions create a strong bond, resulting in the formation of ionic compounds, like sodium chloride (table salt).

Covalent bonds, on the other hand, involve the sharing of electrons between atoms, leading to the formation of molecules rather than ions. Metallic bonds involve a 'sea of electrons' that are shared among a lattice of metal cations, which do not create charged ions in the same way. Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions that occur when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a more electronegative atom interacts with another electronegative atom. Each of these types of bonds has different interactions and properties, but the distinct characteristic of an ionic bond is indeed the attraction between ions of opposite charges.