* Ionic bonds form between metals and nonmetals. Calcium (Ca) is a metal, and nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) are nonmetals.

* Calcium loses two electrons to become a positively charged ion (Ca²⁺).

* Nitrate (NO₃⁻) is a polyatomic ion, where nitrogen and oxygen are covalently bonded, but the entire group carries a negative charge.

* Electrostatic attraction between the positively charged calcium ion and the negatively charged nitrate ions holds the compound together.

Therefore, the primary bond type in calcium nitrate is ionic.