Which pair of elements is most apt to form an ionic compound with each other?
A)barium, bromine
B)calcium, sodium
C)oxygen, fluorine
D)sulfur, fluorine
E)nitrogen, hydrogen

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Barium (Ba) is a metal in Group 2 (alkaline earth metals) and bromine (Br) is a nonmetal in Group 17 (halogens). Metals tend to lose electrons to form cations, while nonmetals tend to gain electrons to form anions. This difference in electron affinity makes barium and bromine most likely to form an ionic compound, as barium can lose electrons to bromine, resulting in the formation of Ba^2+ and Br^- ions.

Which Pair of Elements Is Most Apt to Form an Ionic