Understanding Ionic and Covalent Bonds Flashcard

Front

What is an ionic bond?

Back

An ionic bond is a type of chemical bond formed through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of charged ions.

Front

What is a covalent bond?

Back

A covalent bond is a type of chemical bond where two atoms share one or more pairs of valence electrons.

Front

What are ionic compounds?

Back

Ionic compounds are compounds formed from ionic bonds, typically consisting of metals and nonmetals, characterized by high melting and boiling points.

Front

What are covalent compounds?

Back

Covalent compounds are compounds formed from covalent bonds, usually consisting of nonmetals, characterized by lower melting and boiling points compared to ionic compounds.

Front

What is electronegativity?

Back

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons in a chemical bond.

Front

How does electronegativity difference determine bond type?

Back

A large electronegativity difference (typically greater than 1.7) between two atoms leads to the formation of an ionic bond, while a small difference (less than 1.7) leads to a covalent bond.

Front

What is the property of ionic compounds regarding electrical conductivity?

Back

Ionic compounds conduct electricity when melted or dissolved in water because the ions are free to move, but they do not conduct electricity in solid form due to fixed positions of ions.

Front

What is the melting point of ionic compounds?

Back

Ionic compounds generally have high melting and boiling points due to the strong electrostatic forces between the ions.

Front

What happens to valence electrons in a covalent bond?

Back

In a covalent bond, valence electrons are shared between the bonded atoms.

Front

What is a key characteristic of ionic bonds?

Back

Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of positively and negatively charged ions.