Which type of bond is formed between a metal and a nonmetal?

The bond formed between a metal and a nonmetal is classified as an ionic bond. This type of bond arises when there is a significant difference in electronegativity between the two elements involved. In ionic bonding, the metal, which typically has a low electronegativity, loses one or more electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, becoming a positively charged ion (cation). Meanwhile, the nonmetal, possessing a higher electronegativity, gains these electrons to also reach a stable configuration, resulting in a negatively charged ion (anion).

The electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions leads to the formation of the ionic bond. A classic example of this is sodium chloride (NaCl), where sodium (Na), a metal, donates an electron to chlorine (Cl), a nonmetal, forming Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions that are held together by their opposite charges.

Covalent bonds, on the other hand, involve the sharing of electrons between two nonmetals, while polar covalent bonds involve unequal sharing of electrons, usually between nonmetals of different electronegativities. Nonpolar covalent bonds refer to an equal sharing of electrons, which typically occurs between two identical nonmetals. These types of