Ionic bonds involve electrostatic forces between ions

Steps:

• Recall that ionic bonds form when electrons transfer from metals to nonmetals, creating oppositely charged ions.
• Identify the bond as the force holding these ions together in a crystal lattice.
• Evaluate choices: A describes metallic bonds with delocalized electrons; B matches the attraction between cations and anions; C refers to covalent sharing; D explains electron transfer but not the bond itself.
• Confirm B as the precise definition.

Why B is correct:

• Ionic bonds are defined as the electrostatic attraction between positively charged cations and negatively charged anions, as per basic chemistry principles.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Describes metallic bonds, involving a "sea" of delocalized electrons around positive ions.
• C: Describes covalent bonds, where electrons are shared to achieve stable configurations.
• D: Describes ion formation via electron transfer, not the bonding mechanism.

Final answer: B