determining bonds

[Isabelle Bautista 3H]

Is the only way to know whether a compound is ionic or covalent to know whether the elements are metal vs non-metal? Or is there another way to figure it out?

[Clara Rehmann 1K]

You can predict the nature of the bond based on the elements in it and how electrons need to be shared. If both can fulfill the octet rule (or whatever rule they need to fulfill) by just giving/receiving an electron, then it's probably an ionic bond, but if it looks like electrons need to be shared in order for both atoms to fill their valence shell, the bond is most likely covalent.

[Isaiah Little 1A 14B]

Generally speaking, bonds between metals and nonmetals form ions when they bond, so a metal/nonmetal bond is an ionic bond. A covalent bond occurs between nonmetals, and a metallic bond is a bond between metal elements.

[GabrielGarciaDiscussion1i]

We haven't fully got into Electronegativity yet but as we began to touch on it in today's lecture, Oct 30th Monday lecture, it is my understanding that Ionic bonds see a great difference in Electronegativity where one element in the bond is significantly more Electronegative (meaning it's delta is greatly negative) while the other is significantly less electronegative. Therefore, if there is a VERY large difference in Electronegativity, then the bond may be ionic and if the difference in electronegativty is moderate, it may be more covalent.

[Anna Goldberg 2I]

You can also look at how electrons are apportioned. If elements share electrons in the bond, it is a covalent bond. If electrons are completely "gained" and "lost" by elements bonded together, then the bond is ionic.