Atomic bonds can be divided into two categories: ionic bonds and covalent bonds. They are distinct in terms of their structure and properties. Covalent bonds are made up of pairs of electrons shared by two atoms, and they are used to hold the atoms together in a specific orientation. A significant amount of energy (50-200 kcal/mol) is required in order to break them. The ability of two atoms to form a covalent bond is determined by their electronegativity, which is the ability of an atom in a molecule to attract electrons to itself (or vice versa). If the electronegativity of two atoms differs significantly – as sodium and chloride do – then one of the atoms will lose an electron to the other atom as a result of the difference. In the end, this produces both a positively charged ion (cation) and a negatively charged ion (anions) (anion). Ionic bonding is the term used to describe the bond formed between these two ions.
While the covalent bond is formed when two atoms are able to share electrons, the ionic bond is formed when the “sharing” is so unbalanced that an electron from atom A is completely lost to atom B, resulting in the formation of a pair of ions between the two atoms
Protons, neutrons, and electrons are the building blocks of each atom. Neutrons and protons remain in close proximity at the nucleus of the atom. Electrons, on the other hand, revolve in an orbit around the centre. Each of these molecular orbital can hold a specific number of electrons, allowing for the formation of a stable atom to be formed. However, with the exception of inert gas, this configuration is not present in the majority of atoms. As a result, each atom shares half of its electrons in order to stabilise the atom.
Comparison chart:
Covalent bonds | Ionic bonds | |
Polarity | Low | High |
Formation | A covalent bond is formed between two nonmetals that have electronegativities that are similar to one another. It is not possible for either atom to attract electrons from the other because neither atom is “strong” enough. They share electrons from the outer molecular orbit with other molecules in order to maintain stability. | An ionic bond is formed when a metal and a non-metal come into contact. In comparison to metals(+ve ion), non-metals(-ve ion) are “stronger” and can obtain electrons from metals much more easily than the latter. The ionic bond is formed when two ions that are diametrically opposed attract each other. |
Shape | Definite shape | No definite shape |
Melting point | Low | High |
Examples | Methane (CH4), HydroChloric acid (HCl). | Sodium chloride (NaCl), Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4). |
State at room temperature | Liquid or gaseous | Solid |
Ionic vs covalent compounds:
During the early days of chemistry, it was also discovered that bonding has a second general characteristic. A large number of different types of compounds were discovered to fall into two distinct categories that can be distinguished by their behaviour when dissolved in water. Another classification consists of electrolytes, which are compounds that dissolve in water to form solutions that are capable of transferring electricity. Members of the other class, nonelectrolytes, dissolve in water to produce solutions that do not conduct electrical current. It was because of the differences between the two classes that the idea that there are two types of chemical bonds came about. Ions are produced in solution by electrolytes; an ion is an atom that has been electrically charged and that transports its electric charge as it moves through a solution. As a result, electrolytes are either made up of ions before they are dissolved or produce ions after they have been dissolved. They do not produce ions when they dissolve and do not contain any ions in their undissolved state, making them nonelectrolytes.
Ionic vs covalent periodic table:
In order to compile the periodic table, which is arranged in a way that shows family resemblances among the chemical elements, Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev used evidence from the pattern of valence and the type of bonding—ionic or covalent—characteristics of the elements. In this way, oxygen and sulphur (S), both of which are characteristically valenced at two, have been combined into a single family, whereas nitrogen and phosphorus (P), both of which are characteristically valenced at three, have been combined into a neighbouring family. It has been proven that the periodic table is the most unifying concept in chemistry, as it summarises an enormous amount of information.
Metallic elements are typically found to the left of the periodic table and are known to form ionic compounds. Nonmetallic elements, which can combine to form a large number of covalent compounds with one another, are typically found to the right of the table in the periodic table. Taking the special case of the band of elements in columns 3 through 12 of the table, which are referred to as the transition elements, out of consideration for the time being, the typical valences of elements increase from 1 on the far left, rising in steps of 1 as they move to the right, to reach 4 at the family headed by carbon (C), and then fall in steps of 1 to 1 itself at the family that includes chlorine and is headed by fluorine (F).
Conclusion:
As the name implies, an ionic bond is one in which one of the participating atoms essentially donates an electron to the other, whereas electrons in a covalent bond are shared equally between the atoms.Atomic bonds can be divided into two categories: ionic bonds and covalent bonds.
The ability of two atoms to form a covalent bond is determined by their electronegativity, which is the ability of an atom in a molecule to attract electrons to itself. A large number of different types of compounds were discovered to fall into two distinct categories that can be distinguished by their behaviour when dissolved in water.
Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev used evidence from the pattern of valence and the type of bonding—ionic or covalent—characteristics of the elements.It has been proven that the periodic table is the most unifying concept in chemistry, as it summarises an enormous amount of information.