What type of elements typically form ionic bonds?

Ionic bonds typically form between metals and nonmetals due to their distinct electronegativities and the way they interact with electrons. Metals, which have a tendency to lose electrons, become positively charged ions (cations), while nonmetals, which gain electrons, become negatively charged ions (anions). The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions leads to the formation of an ionic bond.

For example, in sodium chloride (table salt), sodium (a metal) donates an electron to chlorine (a nonmetal), resulting in the formation of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions. This bond is characterized by a transfer of electrons rather than a sharing, which is typical in covalent bonds formed between nonmetals or metalloids. Thus, the correct combination of elements for forming ionic bonds is indeed metals and nonmetals.