Many of the substances that exist in the universe are a result of chemical reactions involving bonding. Ionic, Covalent and Hydrogen bonding are essential to the formation of the world that we know today. The first type of bond involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to the next. This type of bond is known as Ionic bond and occurs between a metal and a nonmetal atom. These bonds are typically stronger than covalent bonds and involve atoms that have a large difference in their electronegativity or their ability to attract electrons. As a result of their strong bonds these molecules have a high boiling and melting point, a high polarity and are typically solid at room temperature. Ionic bonds involve a metal and nonmetal because metals …show more content…
An example of this would be NaCl. Sodium (Na) has a charge of +1 whereas Chlorine (Cl) has a charge of -1, when they bond the Sodium gives its electron to the Chlorine which balances both of them. In addition to ionic bonds, electrons can be shared by atoms through covalent bonds. This type of bond occurs between two nonmetals. These bonds are typically weak and have a smaller difference in their electronegativity in comparison to two atoms that are in an ionic bond. Because of their weak bond, they have a low boiling and melting point, low polarity and are usually either liquids or gases at room temperature. These bonds ensure that both atoms will be satisfied with a full outer shell by sharing the electrons that the atoms have collectively. An example of a covalent bond would be SCl2 where Sulfur (S) has a charge of -2 and Chlorine (Cl) has a charge of -1. The Sulfur atom is in need of two electrons whereas the two Chlorine atoms are in need of one each. By covalently bonding they are balancing each other by sharing. Occasionally though, electrons may spend more time with one atom over the other, known as Polar Covalent