What types of elements are involved in an ionic bond?

Ionic bonds are formed through the electrostatic attraction between positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions). This type of bonding typically occurs between a metal and a nonmetal. Metals, which have a tendency to lose electrons, form cations, while nonmetals tend to gain electrons to become anions. This transfer of electrons from the metal to the nonmetal leads to the formation of oppositely charged ions that attract each other, resulting in an ionic bond.

In contrast, nonmetals bonding with nonmetals typically involves covalent bonding, where electrons are shared rather than transferred. Metal and metal interactions may lead to metallic bonding or other types of interactions but do not result in ionic bonds. “Any two elements” is too broad, as not all combinations of elements will result in ionic bonding. Thus, the pairing of metals with nonmetals is essential for ionic bond formation.