What type of bond is formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another?

When electrons are transferred from one atom to another, an ionic bond is formed. This type of bond typically occurs between a metal and a non-metal. In this process, the metal atom loses one or more electrons, becoming a positively charged ion (cation), while the non-metal atom gains those electrons, resulting in a negatively charged ion (anion). The electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions creates a strong ionic bond.

This behavior is contrasted with covalent bonds, where electrons are shared between atoms, and metallic bonds, characterized by a 'sea of electrons' that allows for conductivity and malleability. Hydrogen bonds, on the other hand, are relatively weak attractions that occur between hydrogen atoms bonded to electronegative atoms and other electronegative atoms, not involving electron transfer. Thus, the nature of ionic bonding, based on electron transfer, makes it the correct answer in this context.