Which of the following is an example of ionic bond formation?

The formation of an ionic bond occurs when one atom donates an electron to another atom, leading to the creation of charged ions that attract each other due to opposite charges. In the context of potassium chloride, potassium (K) is an alkali metal that readily loses one electron to achieve a stable electronic configuration, resulting in a positively charged potassium ion (K+). Chlorine (Cl), on the other hand, gains that electron and becomes a negatively charged chloride ion (Cl−). The electrostatic attraction between the K+ and Cl− ions forms the ionic bond in potassium chloride.

Sodium chloride, while also an example of ionic bonding, is not the chosen answer but represents a similar case where sodium (Na) gives up an electron to chlorine. Carbon dioxide and water involve covalent bonding rather than ionic bonding, as they consist of shared electrons between atoms rather than the transfer of electrons. Thus, potassium chloride is a clear representation of ionic bond formation.