Such a bond forms when the valence (outermost) electrons of one atom are transferred permanently to another atom. ... The atom that loses the electrons becomes a positively charged ion (cation), while the one that gains them becomes a negatively charged ion (anion).

Are electrons transferred in ionic bonds?

Ionic bonds form between elements with very different electronegativities, resulting in transfer of electrons between the atoms.

Why are electrons transferred in ionic bonds?

In ionic bonding, electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another. In the process of either losing or gaining negatively charged electrons, the reacting atoms form ions. The oppositely charged ions are attracted to each other by electrostatic forces, which are the basis of the ionic bond.