Here's why:
* Gaining and Losing Electrons: Atoms that gain electrons become negatively charged ions (anions), while atoms that lose electrons become positively charged ions (cations).
* Electrostatic Attraction: The opposite charges of these ions attract each other strongly, forming an electrostatic bond. This strong attraction is what defines an ionic bond.
Example: Sodium (Na) loses an electron to become a positively charged sodium ion (Na+), while chlorine (Cl) gains an electron to become a negatively charged chloride ion (Cl-). The attraction between these oppositely charged ions forms the ionic compound sodium chloride (NaCl), also known as table salt.
