Compare and contrast ionic and covalent compounds
Answers
Covalent Compounds
Covalent bonds are characterized by the sharing of electrons between two or more atoms. These bonds mostly occur between nonmetals or between two of the same (or similar) elements.Two atoms with similar electronegativity will not exchange an electron from their outermost shell; the atoms instead share electrons so that their valence electron shell is filled.
Examples of compounds that contain only covalent bonds are methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and iodine monobromide (IBr).
Covalent bonding between hydrogen atomsSince each hydrogen atom has one electron, they are able to fill their outermost shells by sharing a pair of electrons through a covalent bond.
Ionic Compounds
Ionic bonding occurs when there is a large difference in electronegativity between two atoms. This large difference leads to the loss of an electron from the less electronegative atom and the gain of that electron by the more electronegative atom, resulting in two ions. These oppositely charged ions feel an attraction to each other, and this electrostatic attraction constitutes an ionic bond.
Ionic bonding occurs between a nonmetal, which acts as an electron acceptor, and a metal, which acts as an electron donor. Metals have few valence electrons, whereas nonmetals have closer to eight valence electrons; to easily satisfy the octet rule, the nonmetal will accept an electron donated by the metal. More than one electron can be donated and received in an ionic bond.
Some examples of compounds with ionic bonding include NaCl, KI, MgCl2.
An ionic bond essentially donates an electron to the other atom participating in the bond, while electrons in a covalent bond are shared equally between the atoms. The only pure covalent bonds occur between identical atoms. Ionic bonds form between a metal and a nonmetal. Covalent bonds form between two nonmetals.