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Ionic compounds are formed due to the combination of metals and nonmetals.

1. A metallic atom loses electrons and gets converted into a positively charged ion (cation).
2. A non-metallic atom gains electrons and gets converted into a negatively charged ion(anion).
3. These cations and anions have opposite charge and experience a strong attraction for each other, so they remain tightly held together forming ionic or electrovalent bond.
Hence ionic compounds are formed due to the combination of metals and non-metals.