BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The nature of the bond in ionic compounds is characterized by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another. In these compounds, typically a metal atom loses one or more electrons, resulting in a positively charged ion (cation), while a non-metal atom gains those electrons, resulting in a negatively charged ion (anion). This transfer creates a strong electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions, which is the basis for the ionic bond.

The distinction between ionic and covalent bonding is crucial in understanding the properties and behavior of different substances. While covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms, ionic bonds result from the complete transfer of electrons, leading to the formation of charged particles that come together to form a stable ionic compound.

Choosing this statement accurately captures the defining characteristic of ionic bonding and highlights the interaction and relationship between the ions involved. This is in contrast to the other statements which either misrepresent the bond type or describe different bonding scenarios altogether.