gen-define-covalent-versus-ionic-bonding-and-give-one-short-work-c274

Define covalent versus ionic bonding and give one short worked example.

# Covalent vs Ionic Bonding ## **Ionic Bonding** - Occurs between **metals and nonmetals** - Involves **transfer of electrons** from metal to nonmetal - Forms oppositely charged ions held together by electrostatic attraction - Creates ionic compounds (salts) ## **Covalent Bonding** - Occurs between **nonmetals** - Involves **sharing of electrons** between atoms - Forms molecules with shared electron pairs - No ions are formed --- ## **Worked Example: NaCl (Ionic)** **Sodium chloride formation:** 1. **Sodium (Na):** - Electronic configuration: 2,8,1 - Loses 1 electron → becomes Na⁺ (2,8) 2. **Chlorine (Cl):** - Electronic configuration: 2,8,7 - Gains 1 electron → becomes Cl⁻ (2,8,8) 3. **Result:** - Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions attract electrostatically - Forms ionic compound: **Na⁺Cl⁻** - Both ions now have stable noble gas configurations **In contrast:** H₂O (covalent) forms when oxygen *shares* electrons with two hydrogen atoms rather than transferring them.