69
RCMultiple Choice

Cumulative Exam — Cumulative exam

Question 69 • PA-Physical Science A

What causes an ionic bond to form between sodium and chlorine?

Answer
A
Sodium and chlorine atoms share electrons.
B
Sodium and chlorine atoms switch electrons.
C
Sodium atoms gain electrons.
D
Sodium atoms donate electrons.

Explanation

Sodium has one outer electron that it can donate to chlorine, which needs one electron to complete its outer shell. This transfer creates positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions, whose electrical attraction forms an ionic bond. Sodium and chlorine do not share electrons, so choice A describes covalent bonding instead.

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