What is a common example of an ionic bond?

A common example of an ionic bond is the formation of table salt, which occurs when sodium (Natrium) and chlorine combine. In this process, sodium donates an electron to chlorine, resulting in the formation of positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions. This transfer of electrons creates an electrostatic attraction between the ions, which is characteristic of ionic bonding. Ionic bonds are typically formed between metals and non-metals, with sodium, a metal, reacting with chlorine, a non-metal. The resulting compound, NaCl, is stable and forms a crystalline structure typical of ionic compounds.

In contrast, the other choices involve different types of bonding. Water is formed through covalent bonding between hydrogen and oxygen, where electrons are shared rather than transferred. The combination of carbon with oxygen can result in both ionic and covalent bonds, depending on the specific chemical species involved, but in most conventional contexts, it involves covalent bonds. Lastly, bonding between iron and copper typically involves metallic bonding, as both elements are metals and share electrons within a 'sea of electrons' rather than forming distinct ions.