⚛️Ionic bond vs Covalent bond🔗
Chemical bonds hold matter together, and the two main types differ in how electrons are handled. This shapes whether a substance is brittle salt or a soft gas.
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⚛️Ionic bond
- ✓Electrons transferred from metal to nonmetal
- ✓Forms charged ions held by attraction
- ✓High melting and boiling points
- ✓Conducts electricity when molten or dissolved
- ✓Examples: NaCl, MgO, CaF2
🔗Covalent bond
- ✓Electrons shared between nonmetals
- ✓Forms discrete neutral molecules
- ✓Generally lower melting points
- ✓Usually does not conduct electricity
- ✓Examples: H2O, CO2, CH4
Verdict
Ionic bonds appear between metals and nonmetals through electron transfer; covalent bonds appear between nonmetals through sharing. Electronegativity difference predicts which forms.
Frequently asked
How do I predict the bond type?+
Compare electronegativities: a large difference favors ionic bonding, a small one favors covalent bonding.
Why are ionic compounds brittle?+
Shifting the lattice aligns like charges, which repel and crack the crystal.
Can a bond be partly both?+
Yes. Polar covalent bonds share electrons unequally, sitting between purely ionic and purely covalent.
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