Ionic compounds are formed by the electrostatic attraction between metals and nonmetals. Here's a breakdown:

* Metals tend to lose electrons and form positively charged ions (cations).

* Nonmetals tend to gain electrons and form negatively charged ions (anions).

The opposite charges of the ions attract each other, creating a strong electrostatic bond that holds the compound together.

For example:

* Sodium (Na), a metal, loses one electron to form a sodium ion (Na+).

* Chlorine (Cl), a nonmetal, gains one electron to form a chloride ion (Cl-).

These ions then combine to form the ionic compound sodium chloride (NaCl), also known as table salt.