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Quiz yourself on Ionic BondingGet your flashcardsBuild my revision planTrack my progress⚖️ Ionic vs Covalent Bonding
Exam papers regularly ask you to "compare ionic and covalent bonding" for 4 marks. Learn this table — it covers every mark point.
| Feature | Ionic | Covalent |
|---|---|---|
| What happens to electrons | Electrons transferred from metal to non-metal | Electrons shared between non-metal atoms |
| Occurs between | Metal + non-metal | Non-metal + non-metal |
| Particles formed | Oppositely charged ions (giant ionic lattice) | Molecules (or giant covalent structures) |
| Melting point | High (strong electrostatic forces between ions) | Low for simple molecular (weak intermolecular forces) |
| Conducts electricity? | Only when molten or dissolved in water (ions free to move) | No — no free charged particles (usually) |
| Example | NaCl, MgO, CaCl₂ | H₂O, CO₂, HCl |
Exam tip: "Compare" questions need a direct side-by-side contrast — do not just describe ionic bonding on its own. Use language like "unlike ionic bonding, covalent..." to signal a genuine comparison.
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