* Ionic bonds form between a metal and a nonmetal. In NH₄Cl, we have:
* NH₄⁺ (ammonium ion): This is a polyatomic ion, but the nitrogen atom is bonded to hydrogen atoms via covalent bonds, forming a positively charged entity.
* Cl⁻ (chloride ion): This is a negatively charged ion, representing a chlorine atom that has gained an electron.
* Covalent bonds form between nonmetals. While the nitrogen and hydrogen atoms within the ammonium ion are covalently bonded, the overall interaction between the ammonium ion and the chloride ion is ionic.
In summary: The attraction between the positively charged ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) and the negatively charged chloride ion (Cl⁻) is what constitutes the ionic bond in NH₄Cl.