How do ionic compounds typically form?

Ionic compounds typically form through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another. This process usually involves a metal atom donating one or more of its electrons to a nonmetal atom. The metal, which tends to have a low electronegativity, loses electrons easily and becomes a positively charged ion (cation). In contrast, the nonmetal, which has a higher electronegativity, gains those electrons and becomes a negatively charged ion (anion). The electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions is what constitutes the ionic bond, resulting in the formation of an ionic compound.

This method of formation is distinct from covalent bonding, where electrons are shared between atoms, which is not the case in ionic compounds. In addition, the other choices reflect concepts or processes that do not accurately describe ionic compound formation, such as breaking covalent bonds or forming new covalent compounds, which are unrelated to the nature of ionic bonding.