b
The ionization energy \((IE)\) is defined as the amount of energy required to remove the most loosely bound electron of an isolated gaseous atom to form a cation. Electron affinity of an atom or molecule is defined as the amount of energy released when an electron is added to a neutral atom or molecule in the gaseous state to form a negative ion. When the ionization energy is low and electron affinity is high, more will be the tendency to form an ionic bond.