Question

Bonds between metals and nonmetals tend to be ionic, but bonds between nonmetal atoms tend to be covalent. Explain why this is true, using your understanding of electronegativity and ionization energy for these groups of elements.

Answer 1

Bond type depends on differences in electronegativity.

Metals and nonmetals tend to have large differences in electronegativity.

Nonmetals tend to have smaller differences in electronegativity.

Ionic bonds form between atoms that have large electronegativity differences.

Covalent bonds form between atoms with small electronegativity differences.

Answer 2

Ionic bond is a type of bond in which one or more atoms are transferred to another atom which results to two ions with opposite charge. They attract each other.

The atom of another element is removed and then gained by another element which produces a noble gas electron configuration.

Covalent bond is a type of bond in which a pair or more electrons are being shared by the atoms of two elements.

Because of this, the molecules become stable by sharing the electrons thus creating a noble gas configuration for each of the atom.