Attractive forces that hold atoms or ions together to form molecules or compounds are called
chemical bonds
The explanation for the correct answer
(c) Chemical bonds
A chemical bond may be defined as the force of attraction between the atoms that bonds them together as a unit called a molecule. All the elements have different valence shell electronic configurations. So how they combine to form compounds also differs. Hence there are different types of bonds. There are four types of bond ionic bond, covalent bond, coordinate covalent bond and metallic bond.
The explanation for the incorrect answer
(a) ionic bonds
An ionic bond is an electrostatic force between positive and negative ions. Therefore, it is not the correct option.
(b) covalent bonds
A covalent bond is formed by sharing of electrons between the atoms. Therefore, it is not an attractive force that holds ions to form molecules.
Therefore, the attractive forces that hold atoms or ions together to form molecules or compounds are called chemical bonds.