Describe the uniqueness of a covalent bond. How is it similar to an ionic bond? How is it different from a covalent bond?
1 Answer
Covalent bonds occur between non-metals only, sharing electrons. Different from an ionic bond that donates and receives electrons.
Explanation:
Both bonds result in forming compounds of differentiating properties and structures. Atoms react in order to achieve stability.
However, covalent bonds have a unique property that ionic bonds do not have, and that is occurrence.
Unlike ionic bonds that only react between a metal (cation) and a non-metal (anion), covalent bonds are strictly non-metals and non-metals.
Ionic bonds involve the cation "donating" their valence electrons to the anion, resulting a strong chemical bond. This leads to many different, beneficial properties.
Covalent bonds share electrons, forming pairs with other atoms. This can lead to complex molecules such as glucose,
Additionally, the sharing of electrons is very weak compared to the those in an ionic bond. Covalent compounds also have a property of being polar and non-polar, something ionic compounds don't have.
There are a lot more, but I've went through the basics.
Hope this helps :)
