Which of the following statements best describes an ionic compound?

• A. It contains positively and negatively charged ions
• B. It is made of neutral molecules bonded by sharing electrons
• C. It comprises only metals
• D. It has a net positive charge

Answer: (A)

Ionic compounds are defined by containing ions of opposite charges held together by strong electrostatic forces. In most cases, a metal loses electrons to become a positively charged cation, while a nonmetal gains those electrons to become a negatively charged anion. The attraction between these opposite charges creates a stable lattice, and the whole compound is electrically neutral. That’s why the statement about containing positively and negatively charged ions is the best description. Other ideas describe different types of bonding: neutral molecules held together by sharing electrons point to covalent bonding; a substance made only of metals reflects metallic bonding; and a net positive charge would mean the substance isn’t a neutral ionic compound.