Similarities and contrast (differences) ionic and covalent bonding.

Sample Solution

  Similarities

• Both ionic and covalent bonding involve the transfer or sharing of electrons between atoms.
• Both ionic and covalent bonds are strong bonds that hold atoms together in molecules.
• Both ionic and covalent bonds are essential for the formation of molecules.

Full Answer Section

  Differences

• In ionic bonding, electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating ions with opposite charges. In covalent bonding, electrons are shared between atoms, creating molecules with no overall charge.
• Ionic bonds are typically formed between atoms with very different electronegativities, while covalent bonds are typically formed between atoms with similar electronegativities.
• Ionic bonds are typically more polar than covalent bonds.

Valence Electrons and Electronegativity The valence electrons of an atom are the electrons that are located in the outermost shell of the atom. These electrons are the ones that are involved in bonding. The electronegativity of an atom is a measure of how strongly the atom attracts electrons. In ionic bonding, the atom with the higher electronegativity will attract the valence electrons from the atom with the lower electronegativity. This creates ions with opposite charges, which are then attracted to each other by the electrostatic force. In covalent bonding, the atoms share their valence electrons with each other. This creates a molecule in which the electrons are shared between the atoms. The amount of sharing depends on the relative electronegativities of the atoms. If the atoms have similar electronegativities, the sharing will be equal, and the molecule will be nonpolar. If the atoms have different electronegativities, the sharing will be unequal, and the molecule will be polar. Examples

• Ionic bonding: Sodium chloride (NaCl) is an example of a molecule that is formed by ionic bonding. Sodium is a metal with a low electronegativity, while chlorine is a nonmetal with a high electronegativity. When sodium and chlorine react, the sodium atom loses its valence electron to the chlorine atom. This creates a sodium ion with a positive charge and a chlorine ion with a negative charge. The sodium ion and the chlorine ion are then attracted to each other by the electrostatic force.
• Covalent bonding: Water (H2O) is an example of a molecule that is formed by covalent bonding. Hydrogen is a nonmetal with a low electronegativity, while oxygen is a nonmetal with a high electronegativity. When hydrogen and oxygen react, they share their valence electrons with each other. This creates a molecule in which the electrons are shared between the hydrogen atoms and the oxygen atom. The sharing is unequal, however, because oxygen has a higher electronegativity than hydrogen. This means that the oxygen atom has a slightly negative charge, while the hydrogen atoms have a slightly positive charge.

Conclusion Ionic and covalent bonding are two different types of chemical bonding that are essential for the formation of molecules. Ionic bonding is formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, while covalent bonding is formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms. The valence electrons and electronegativity of the atoms involved play a role in determining the type of bonding that will occur.