What type of bond is formed in sodium chloride (NaCl)?

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is formed through an ionic bond, which occurs between a metal and a non-metal. In this case, sodium (Na) is a metal that readily loses an electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, while chlorine (Cl) is a non-metal that gains that electron to also become stable. This transfer of electrons leads to the formation of positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions creates a strong bond, which is characteristic of ionic compounds.

This fundamental process is different from other types of bonds. In covalent bonds, atoms share electrons rather than transferring them. Metallic bonds involve a 'sea of electrons' shared among many metal atoms, providing conductivity and malleability. Lastly, hydrogen bonds are a type of weak intermolecular interaction that occurs between hydrogen atoms and electronegative atoms, which is not applicable in the case of sodium chloride. Thus, ionic bonding is the distinctive feature of NaCl.