Ionic Bond and Covalent Character

[TiffanyBrownfield 2I]

Would a bond between a cation with a high charge density and an anion with low ionization create an ionic bond with the most covalent character, or is it based off other factors as well?

[SophiaBarden 2E]

Ionic bonds form between atoms with high electronegativity differences (a cation and anion), and is generally between metals and nonmetals. Covalent bonds generally form between two nonmetals, and the difference in electronegativity largely contributes to the ionic character of the covalent bond. Increasing difference in electronegativity leads to increasing ionic character.

[Anh Trinh 1J]

If the difference in electronegativities is large, then one atom can acquire a lot of electrons. Because it has largely "stolen" the other other atom of its shares of electrons, the highly electronegative element resembles an anion and the other a cation. This bond is considered an ionic bond.

Also, for electronegativity differences smaller than about 1.5, it is a covalent bond. And when an electronegativity different is about 2, the bond has a much more ionic character.

[Rob Tsai 2F]

Generally, I think that the farther away two elements on the periodic table are from each other, the more their ionic character increases. This is because elements of higher differences in electronegativity form ionic bonds. Electronegativity increases across a period and up a group, so distance from each other on the periodic table is a general factor one considers from a cursory standpoint.

If there was a question regarding defining whether a bond between two elements is covalent or ionic, then the soft guidelines of electronegativity difference > 2.0 is an ionic bond and electronegativity difference < 1.5 is a covalent bond.

[Lauren Sarigumba 1K]

Ionic bonds in general are when a nonmental bonds with a metal. Covalent bonds are when a nonmetal binds with another nonmetal, generally speaking. Ionic bonds have a covalent character in the sense that both neighboring atoms share the same electron density. Moreover, some covalent bonds have ionic character because sometimes the electrons are not shared equally, which creates polar covalent bonds.