Ionic and Covalent Bonds

[Kayla Maldonado 1C]

How do you know whether or not two elements share a covalent or ionic bond and why?

[ThomasNguyen_Dis1H]

Ionic bonds occur within a metal and a nonmetal (Na and Cl in NaCl). The electrons have to be taken and transferred from one atom to another. Covalent bonds form between two nonmetals. (C and H in CH4) The atoms in this bond share their electrons.

[KaitlynBali_4B]

To add on, nonmetals have ionization energies that are too high and would make it really hard to remove electrons to encourage ionic bonding. This is a reason why nonmetals engage in covalent bonding instead (electron sharing in between atoms).

[Alexa Hernandez 3k]

It will depend on the elements you are working with and its specific qualities. You will have to pay close attention to the position they have on the periodic table and wether or not it is easier for them to share, lose or gain electrons.

[Ashley Kim 3F]

I agree with all the statements made above - ionic bonds occur between a nonmetal and a metal and the valence electrons are transferred between the two atoms. On the other hand, covalent bonds occur when two nonmetal atoms share electrons pairs.