Chemistry Regents Practice Test

What type of bond generally forms between a metal and a non-metal?

1. Covalent bond

2. Ionic bond

3. Hydrogen bond

4. Metallic bond

The correct answer is: Ionic bond

The bond that generally forms between a metal and a non-metal is an ionic bond. This type of bond occurs due to the transfer of electrons from the metal to the non-metal. Metals, which are typically found on the left side of the periodic table, have a tendency to lose electrons, forming positively charged ions (cations). Non-metals, located on the right side of the periodic table, tend to gain electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, forming negatively charged ions (anions). When a metal and a non-metal react, the metal atom loses one or more electrons, while the non-metal atom gains those electrons. The resulting cations and anions are then attracted to each other due to their opposite charges, forming a strong ionic bond. This bonding results in the formation of ionic compounds, which have distinct properties, such as high melting and boiling points and the ability to conduct electricity when dissolved in water or molten. Covalent bonds, which involve the sharing of electrons between atoms, primarily occur between non-metals. Metallic bonds, found in metals, involve the sharing of free electrons among a lattice of metal atoms. Hydrogen bonds are a type of weak attraction that typically occurs between molecules containing hydrogen bonded to highly electronegative elements,