* Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between two nonmetals.
* Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from a metal to a nonmetal, resulting in the formation of ions with opposite charges that attract each other.
Copper (Cu) is a metal, while oxygen (O) is a nonmetal. Copper tends to lose electrons, becoming a positively charged ion (Cu2+), while oxygen tends to gain electrons, becoming a negatively charged ion (O2-). The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions forms the ionic bond.
Therefore, copper and oxygen form copper oxide (CuO), which is an ionic compound.