What is the primary characteristic of an ionic bond?

The primary characteristic of an ionic bond is the electrostatic attraction between charged particles. In an ionic bond, electrons are transferred from one atom to another, usually between a metal and a non-metal. This transfer of electrons results in the formation of ions: cations (positively charged) and anions (negatively charged). The resulting electrostatic force of attraction between these oppositely charged ions is what constitutes the ionic bond.

This bonding type is distinct from covalent bonding, where electrons are shared between atoms rather than transferred. Similarly, hydrogen bonding is a type of dipole-dipole attraction that occurs in molecules containing hydrogen bonded to highly electronegative atoms, and metallic bonding involves a delocalized 'sea' of electrons among metal atoms. Therefore, the defining feature of an ionic bond lies specifically in the strong electrostatic forces between the charged ions formed during the electron transfer process.