Ionic vs Covalent Bonds

[Ricardo Martin 1J]

What is the difference between ionic and covalent bonds?

[Ryan Danis 1J]

In ionic bonds, metals and non metals either gain or lose electrons to achieve the electron configuration of the nearest noble gas. Thus, the transfer of electrons leads to an octet of electrons (although there is an exception for H, He, Li, and Be).

Main group metals form cations. They lose s and p valence electrons to achieve the electron configuration of the preceding noble gas.

p-block non metals form anions. They gain p valence electrons to achieve the electron configuration of the following noble gas.

In covalent bonds, non metals share electrons to form covalent bonds; their ionization energies are too high to form ionic bonds.

[yaosamantha4F]

Ionic bonds are usually formed between a metal and a nonmetal; the metal loses electrons are transferred to the nonmetal so that both atoms can have the same electron configuration as the preceding/following noble gas.

Covalent bonds, on the other hand, involve electrons being shared between atoms to achieve an octet. These are usually between non-metals.

[sarahartzell1A]

Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons while in covalent bonds the electron is shared

[204765696]

These two opposite ions attract each other and form the ionic bond. Covalent bonding is a form of chemical bonding between two non metallic atoms which is characterized by the sharing of pairs of electrons between atoms and other covalent bonds

[Arlene Linares 3A]

In ionic bonds, metals and non metals either gain or lose electrons to achieve the electron configuration of the nearest noble gas. Thus, the transfer of electrons leads to an octet of electrons (although there is an exception for H, He, Li, and Be).

Main group metals form cations. They lose s and p valence electrons to achieve the electron configuration of the preceding noble gas.

p-block non metals form anions. They gain p valence electrons to achieve the electron configuration of the following noble gas.

In covalent bonds, non metals share electrons to form covalent bonds; their ionization energies are too high to form ionic bonds.

Thank you I understand the difference. :)

[Brian Kwak 1D]

I just had a question. For Ionic and Covalent bonds would it be specifically one or would it be more accurate to say its one a spectrum? For example a Bond would have more ionic properties than covalent?

[Brian Chang 2H]

I just had a question. For Ionic and Covalent bonds would it be specifically one or would it be more accurate to say its one a spectrum? For example a Bond would have more ionic properties than covalent?

Bonding is a spectrum where ionic is "giving" and covalent is "sharing" and depending on the electronegativity of the two bonding nuclei.

As a rough guideline:

If the difference in electronegativity between the two elements is >2 the bond should be ionic.

If the difference in electronegativity between the two elements is <1.5 the bond should be covalent.

Goodluck!

[Stevin1H]

Covalent bonds are associated with the sharing of electrons between two nonmetals while Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons between a metal and nonmetal, which involves lattice energy. Ionic bonds are extremely stronger than covalent bonds because of the smaller distance between Ionic bonds versus covalent bonds The shorter the bond distance, the more energy required to break the bond.

[Jennifer Lathrop 1F]

The book states that most bonds are somewhere in between purely covalent and purely ionic. When depicting these bonds, how does one know when to depict a bond as ionic or covalent when it is in this in between state?

[Angela Grant 1D]

The book states that most bonds are somewhere in between purely covalent and purely ionic. When depicting these bonds, how does one know when to depict a bond as ionic or covalent when it is in this in between state?

The book uses a rough guideline in which a difference in electronegativity greater than 2 is an ionic bond, and less than 1.5 is covalent.

[Mallory_Podosin_1H]

Covalent bonds are associated with the sharing of electrons between two nonmetals while Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons between a metal and nonmetal, which involves lattice energy. Ionic bonds are extremely stronger than covalent bonds because of the smaller distance between Ionic bonds versus covalent bonds The shorter the bond distance, the more energy required to break the bond.

Why are ionic bonds so much stronger than covalent bonds - is it simply because of distance? Could there be a strong covalent bond that is stronger than a weak ionic bond or is an ionic bond always stronger than covalent bond? I'm pretty sure that I spent all of high school thinking that covalent bonds were stronger so now I need to wrap my head around the truth!!

[Yukta Italia 3I]

Covalent bonds are associated with the sharing of electrons between two nonmetals while Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons between a metal and nonmetal, which involves lattice energy. Ionic bonds are extremely stronger than covalent bonds because of the smaller distance between Ionic bonds versus covalent bonds The shorter the bond distance, the more energy required to break the bond.

Why are ionic bonds so much stronger than covalent bonds - is it simply because of distance? Could there be a strong covalent bond that is stronger than a weak ionic bond or is an ionic bond always stronger than covalent bond? I'm pretty sure that I spent all of high school thinking that covalent bonds were stronger so now I need to wrap my head around the truth!!

I think I understand where your confusion is coming from because I had the same question. In my biology class I learned that covalent bonds are stronger than ionic bonds, but this concept applies to ionic bonds in water specifically because they are able to dissolve easily (e.g. NaCl). For the context of Chem 14a, ionic bonds are stronger than covalent bonds because we aren't referring to these bonds in a cellular/aqueous environment.

[Daniel Chang 3I]

Ionic Bonds usually consist of a non-metal and metal that transfer electrons while a covalent bond is between non-metals that share electrons

[Megan_Ervin_1F]

Also, on this topic, do ionic bonds also have dispersion forces?

[Lydia Luong 4L]

Ionic--> transfer of electrons, covalent--> sharing of electrons

[Karla_Ocampo 4E]

Hi! So there are two types of atomic bonds, ionic and covalent. A covalent bond is two non metals bonding together. An example of a covalent bond is water (H2O). An ionic bond is when a cation (metal) bonds with a anion (nonmetal). An example of an ionic bond is NaCl. I hope this helped!

[Nick Bazett 1F]

How do you determine which compounds have bonds with greater ionic character?

[I am Sodium Funny]

Ionic: gives up electrons, based on electrostatic attraction
Covalent: Shared electrons between atoms