Ionic vs Covalent Bonds: What's the Difference?
If you've ever stared at a chemistry question and thought "wait, is this ionic or covalent?" — you're in the right place. It's one of the most common sticking points in high school and intro college chemistry, and once it clicks, a huge amount of the rest of the course gets easier. The short answer: an ionic bond forms when one atom transfers electrons to another (usually a metal handing electrons to a nonmetal). A covalent bond forms when two atoms share electrons (usually two nonmetals). Transfer versus share — that's the heart of it. Let's unpack what that actually means, how to tell the two apart in seconds, and look at examples you'll recognize. Quick comparison at a glance Feature Ionic bond Covalent bond How it forms Electrons are transferred Electrons are shared Typical atoms Metal + nonmetal Nonmetal + nonmetal Particles produced Ions (a cation and an anion) Molecules Electronegativity difference Large (roughly > 1.7) Small ...