When it comes to chemistry, there are two types of compounds: ionic and covalent. Ionic compounds are formed when two atoms, one of which is a metal, interact and exchange electrons. Covalent compounds are formed when two atoms share electrons. In this blog post, we will explore the difference between these two types of compounds in more detail!

What is a Covalent Compound?

Covalent compounds are formed when two atoms share electrons. This occurs because the atoms have a strong attraction to each other, and by sharing electrons they are able to fulfil their octet. Covalent compounds are usually found in nature as gases or liquids and are held together by weak intermolecular forces.

Properties of a covalent compound

Covalent compounds have the following properties:

-They are made up of atoms held together by covalent bonds.

-They generally have low melting and boiling points.

-They are poor conductors of electricity in the molten state or in an aqueous solution.

-The atoms in a covalent compound are usually equal in size.

-They have different properties from their constituent elements.

-They may be soluble or insoluble in water.

What is an ionic compound?

Ionic compounds are formed when two atoms, one of which is a metal, interact and exchange electrons. In this process, one atom donates an electron to the other atom, resulting in a positive and negative charge. Ionic compounds are held together by strong electrostatic forces and are usually found in nature as solids.

Properties of an ionic compound

An ionic compound has the following properties:

-They are made up of charged particles called ions.

-They are held together by electrostatic forces between the positive and negative ions.

-They have high melting and boiling points.

-They are good conductors of electricity in the molten state or in an aqueous solution.

Difference between covalent and ionic compound

Covalent and ionic compounds are different from each other on the following basis:

1. On the basis of the definition
2. On the basis of the type of atom
3. On the basis of the bond
4. On the basis of nature
5. On the basis of the formation
6. On the basis of melting and boiling points
7. On the basis of structure
8. On the basis of solubility

Other than these, there are a few more minor differences between covalent and ionic compounds. But these major differences require special attention. Therefore, we will now explain the above-mentioned basis in detail for a better understanding.

On the basis of definition:

Covalent compounds are formed when two atoms share electrons, while ionic compounds are formed when two atoms, one of which is a metal, interact and exchange electrons.

On the basis of type of atom:

Covalent compounds are typically composed of two types of atoms – non-metals, while ionic compounds are typically composed of metal and non-metal.

On the basis of bond:

Covalent compounds are held together by weak intermolecular forces, while ionic compounds are held together by strong electrostatic forces.

On the basis of nature:

Covalent compounds are usually found in nature as gases or liquids, while ionic compounds are usually found in nature as solids.

On the basis of formation:

Covalent compounds are formed when two atoms share electrons, while ionic compounds are formed when two atoms, one of which is a metal, interact and exchange electrons.

On the basis of melting and boiling points:

Covalent compounds have low melting and boiling points, while ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points.

On the basis of structure:

Ionic compounds are held together by a network of ionic bonds, while covalent compounds are held together by covalent bonds.

On the basis of solubility:

Ionic compounds are generally soluble in water, while covalent compounds are not.

Conclusion

In ionic compounds, the metal atom loses one or more electrons to become a positively charged cation. The nonmetal atom gains one or more electrons to become a negatively charged anion. These oppositely charged ions are then attracted to each other and held together by electrostatic forces. This type of compound is usually soluble in water because the polar water molecules can solvate the ionic charges, breaking up the crystal lattice. Covalent compounds, on the other hand, are composed of atoms that share valence electrons evenly between them. Because there are no charges to attract each other, these molecules usually don’t dissolve in water and form crystals as ionic compounds do. Have you ever wondered why salt (sodium chloride) is soluble in water but sugar (sucrose) is not? The difference between these two molecules is that sucrose is a covalent compound, while sodium chloride is an ionic compound.