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Ionic or Covalent

Part of the Structure and Bonding section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 24 of 49.

A metal with a non-metal: the non-metal takes the electrons, and the bond is ionic (Na⁺ and Cl⁻ in NaCl).

Two non-metals share electrons: a covalent bond, polar or non-polar by the difference in electronegativity.

Challenge

Table salt is sodium chloride. Describe the bond between sodium and chlorine: what kind is it, and which atom carries the negative charge?

Try it yourself

Bond typeDescribe the bond Na–Cl

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Structure and Bonding

1Ionic Bonding

Why Atoms Bond Forming Ions The Ionic Bond Ionic Formulas Polyatomic Ions Ionic Lattices Recap - Salt Factory

4Polarity

Electronegativity and Bonds Polar and Non-polar BondsIonic or CovalentPolar Molecules When Dipoles Cancel Recap - Dipole Hunt

7Functional Groups

Carbon Chains Structural Formulas Alcohols Carboxylic Acids Esters and Ethers Aldehydes, Ketones, Amines Recap - Group Finder

2Covalent Bonds

Sharing Electrons Counting Valence Electrons Drawing Lewis Structures Double and Triple Bonds Lone Pairs Formal Charge Lewis Structures of Ions Recap - Molecule Builder

5Forces Between Molecules

London Forces Dipole-Dipole Forces Hydrogen Bonds Boiling Points Like Dissolves Like Recap - Boiling Contest

8Practice Problems

Recap - Polar Bonds Survey Recap - Pigments and Hexane Recap - Butanol and Ether Recap - Dots on an Oxide

3Shapes of Molecules

Electron Groups Linear and Trigonal Planar Tetrahedral Molecules Pyramids and Bent Molecules Bond Angles Recap - Shape Detective

6Metals and Giant Structures

Metallic Bonding Diamond and Graphite Giant Covalent Structures Four Kinds of Substance Recap - Material Match