An ionic compound is

• A. A pure substance consisting of atoms that have covalent bonds.
• B. A metal alloy.
• C. A pure substance made from ions that have an ionic bond, where atoms gain or lose electrons. It is made of positive ions (metal) and negative ions that are combined so that the numbers of positive and negative charges are equal. Categorized as salts.
• D. A mixture of two or more nonmetals.

Answer: (C)

An ionic compound forms when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating charged particles called ions. The atoms that lose electrons become positively charged, while those that gain electrons become negatively charged. These opposite charges attract strongly, so the ions stick together in a solid structure in proportions that balance the overall charge. That balanced, electrically neutral group of ions is what we call a salt, a pure substance with a definite chemical formula.

This is different from substances with covalent bonds, where atoms share electrons rather than form ions. It’s also not a metal alloy, which is a blend of different elements (mostly metals) mixed together, nor is it a simple mixture of nonmetals. The description in the option captures the essential idea: a pure substance made from ions with an ionic bond, composed of positive and negative ions in equal charges to form a neutral compound.