Which type of bond forms when one atom donates an electron to another atom?

The formation of an ionic bond occurs when one atom donates an electron to another atom. This type of bond is characterized by the transfer of electrons, resulting in the creation of charged ions. The donating atom becomes a positively charged ion (cation), while the receiving atom becomes a negatively charged ion (anion). The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions is what holds them together in an ionic bond.

This contrast in electron transfer is a defining factor distinguishing ionic bonds from other types of bonds. For instance, covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms rather than the transfer, which leads to the creation of molecules with shared electron pairs. Additionally, hydrogen bonds are a type of weak attraction between molecules that typically involve a hydrogen atom bonded to a more electronegative atom, while polar bonds represent a type of covalent bond in which electrons are shared unequally due to differences in electronegativity, leading to partial charges within a molecule. Thus, the correct answer regarding the bond formed by electron donation is indeed the ionic bond.