Question

differentiate ionic hydrides and covalent hydrides

Answer 1

IONIC HYDRIDES ARE FORMED BY ELEMENTS OF S BLOCK BUT COVALENT HYDRIDES ARE FORMED BY ELEMENTS OF P-BLOCK

Answer 2

Ionic Hydrides

Ionic hydrides are when the hydrogen acts as a hydrogen anion (a hydrogen with a negative charge) which is strongly attracted to a positively charged metallic element. Generally, this type of bond is used with metal-hydrogen bonds. Typically these are alkali metals or alkaline earth metals since these metals are typically slightly positively charged.

Since the hydrogen acts as a negative hydrogen ion it is able to react with water to for hydrogen gas. When ionic hydrides react with water the metal combines with the OH from the water to form a hydroxide salt. The hydrogen from the ionic hydride and the other water hydrogen combine to form the hydrogen gas.

Covalent Hydrides

When hydrogen bonds with a non-metal a covalent hydride typically occurs. A few metals, such as boron and magnesium, can form covalent bonds but generally these bonds are with non-metals.