Which of the following best describes an ionic compound? * a positively charged compound composed of cations and atoms
a negatively charged compound composed of anions and atoms
a neutral compound composed of protons and electrons
a neutral compound composed of cations

Ionic compounds can be defined as a neutral compound composed of protons and electrons. Thus option C is correct.

An ionic compound has been formed by the transfer of electrons between atoms. The transfer of electrons will impose a charge on the atoms involved in the bond, and result in an ionic compound.

The interaction of the positively charged cations and negatively charged anions takes place. The protons are the positive charged species and electrons are the negatively charged species.

Thus, the ionic compound has been a neutral compound formed by protons and electrons. Thus option C is correct.

For more information about ionic compounds, trefer to the link:

link

The compound is neutral overall, but consists of positively charged ions called cations and negatively charged ions called anions.

(I hope this helped ^^)