How do ionic bonds form?

Ionic bonds form through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, which results in the creation of charged ions. When one atom donates an electron, it becomes a positively charged ion (cation), while the atom that receives the electron becomes a negatively charged ion (anion). The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions leads to the formation of the ionic bond.

This transfer of electrons typically occurs between metals and nonmetals. Metals, which have a tendency to lose electrons, become cations, and nonmetals, which tend to gain electrons, become anions. The resulting compound is held together by the strong electrostatic forces between the cation and anion, resulting in a stable ionic compound.

In contrast, sharing electrons equally or through attraction between neutral atoms does not describe the mechanism of ionic bond formation. Likewise, repulsion between negatively charged ions would lead to the breakdown of any bond rather than the formation of a stable ionic bond.