What is the fundamental difference between covalent and ionic bonding?

• A. Covalent bonding occurs only between metals, while ionic bonding occurs only between nonmetals.
• B. Covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons between atoms, while ionic bonding involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
• C. Covalent bonding results in the formation of ions, while ionic bonding does not produce ions.
• D. Covalent bonding requires high temperatures, while ionic bonding occurs at room temperature.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the nature of covalent bonding. Covalent bonding occurs when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons to achieve a full outer electron shell, leading to the formation of molecules.
2. Step 2: Understand the nature of ionic bonding. Ionic bonding occurs when one atom donates one or more electrons to another atom, resulting in the formation of positively and negatively charged ions that attract each other due to electrostatic forces.
3. Step 3: Recognize that covalent bonds typically form between nonmetal atoms that have similar electronegativities, allowing them to share electrons rather than transfer them.
4. Step 4: Recognize that ionic bonds typically form between metal and nonmetal atoms, where the metal atom loses electrons to become a cation and the nonmetal gains electrons to become an anion.
5. Step 5: Summarize the fundamental difference: covalent bonding involves sharing electrons between atoms, while ionic bonding involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of ions.