Question

which of the following compounds would be expected to have the strongest ionic bonds?
○ the compound that has the largest ions with the greatest charge
○ the compound that has the largest ions with the least charge
○ the compound that has the smallest ions with the greatest charge
○ the compound that has the smallest ions with the least charge

Explanation:

Ionic bond strength depends on Coulomb's law, which states the electrostatic force between ions is proportional to $\frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}$, where $q_1,q_2$ are ion charges and $r$ is the distance between ion centers (related to ion size). Smaller ions mean a smaller $r$, and greater charges mean larger $q_1,q_2$, both of which increase the electrostatic force and thus the ionic bond strength.

Answer:

the compound that has the smallest ions with the greatest charge