Question

Which of the following best describes a pair of elements that will form an ionic bond?
C and H: Hydrogen easily loses electrons, and carbon gains them.
Li and O: Oxygen easily loses electrons, and lithium gains them.
P and Cl: Phosphorus easily loses electrons, and chlorine gains them.
Ca and Br: Calcium easily loses electrons, and bromine gains them.

Answer 1

An ionic bond forms between a metal and a nonmetal. So, since C and O are nonmetals it cannot be that one. Also, P and Cl are also both nonmetals so it cannot be that one either. That leaves Li and O and Ca and Br. In an ionic bond metals loose electrons and nonmetals gain electrons. Therefore it cannot be Li and O because it states that oxygen, the nonmetal, looses electrons and lithium, the metal, looses electrons. So, the answer has to be Ca and Br because Ca, the metal, looses electrons and Br, the nonmetal, gains electrons.  

Answer 2

Considering the definition of ionic bond, the correct answer is the last option: the pair of elements that will form an ionic bond is Ca and Br: : Calcium easily loses electrons, and bromine gains them.

An ionic bond is produced between metallic and non-metallic atoms, where electrons are completely transferred from one atom to another. During this process, one atom loses electrons and another one gains them, forming ions.

In general, metal elements are willing to donate electrons, forming cations, while nonmetals are willing to accept them, forming anions.

On the other side, the octet rule defines the property that atoms have of completing their last energy level with eight electrons to achieve stability. The basis of this rule are the noble gases that have 8 electrons in their last shell and are the least reactive elements of the entire periodic table.

In this way, the transfer of electrons in the ionic bond occurs with the objective of complying with the octet rule and that the elements are stable.

So the pair of elements that will form an ionic bond is Ca and Br, because Ca is a metal, so it will donate electrons, while Br is a non-metal and will accept electrons.

Finally, the correct answer is the last option: the pair of elements that will form an ionic bond is Ca and Br: : Calcium easily loses electrons, and bromine gains them.

Learn more:  

• brainly.com/question/14614895?referrer=searchResults
• brainly.com/question/24755818?referrer=searchResults
• brainly.com/question/24776745?referrer=searchResults