Question about what makes something ionic

[John_Richey_4A]

When I see HBr I anticipate its going to be ionic because its a large elctronegativity difference. Why am I wrong?

[ian_haliburton_1f]

Numerically speaking, have you checked to see if the difference is greater than 2? Otherwise there’s a good deal of room for ambiguity that can only be resolved experimentally.

[Jonathan Omens 1K]

Because the difference in their electronegativities is only about .76, the bond has mostly covalent character. Only bonds with a difference in electronegativity of 2 or greater are said to have mostly ionic character.

[305008749]

The electronegativity difference between H and Br atoms is not that large and the atoms in the molecules are not dependent on associated charges to stabilize one another.

[Chris Dis3L]

Ionic bonds form when the electro negativity difference between the bonding elements is roughly 1.8 or higher. Less than a 1.8 difference results in the creation of either a non-polar or a polar covalent bond. Thus, HBr does not form an ionic bond as their electronegativity difference is not greater than 1.8.

[danicatran4]

Are we going to be given an electronegative chart on the test?