Which pair of atoms form strongest ionic bond? — Chemical Bonding Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: Ionic bond strength is determined by lattice energy, which increases with the charge magnitude of the ions and decreases with increasing ionic radii. Step 2: Out of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Arsenic, and Selenium, Oxygen is the smallest and most electronegative anion, which creates a highly concentrated negative charge. Step 3: When paired with the highly charged Al^3+ cation, the exceptionally small size of the O^2- ion minimizes the interionic distance, producing the highest lattice energy and the strongest ionic bond, corresponding to option (d).