15 Major Difference between Covalent and Ionic Bonds with Table

What is the difference between covalent and ionic bonds?

Chemical bonding results in the formation of a molecule or compound. Ionic and covalent bonds some of the examples used in the formation of compounds.

The core difference between covalent and ionic bonds in tabular form is that a covalent bond is when two species share electrons between their outer shell while the ionic bond is the electrostatic force of attraction between two opposite charged ions.

difference between covalent and ionic bonds

What Is Covalent Bond?

A covalent bond is a chemical bonding that occurs when non-metals combine by sharing the outermost shell electrons with each other.

Characteristics of Covalent Bond

Have similar electronegativity values

Exist in a gaseous or liquid state

Grouped into polar and non-polar

The compound dissolves in water

Have a definite shape

What Is Ionic Bond?

An ionic bond is a chemical bonding that occurs when one atom donates a valence electron to another to attain stability.

Characteristics of Ionic Bond

Have different electronegativity values

Have a tendency to dissociate in water to result in ions

Have no definite shape

Have high melting and boiling point

Exist in solid-state

Comparison Chart: Covalent Bonds Vs Ionic Bonds

Basic Terms	Covalent Bonds	Ionic Bonds
Meaning	It is a chemical bond that occurs when atoms involve shared outer shell valence electrons	It a chemical bond that occurs when one atom donates an electron to another atom
Species involved	Interaction of neutral atoms	Interaction of cations and anions
Strength	Weak bond	Strong bond
Polarity	Low	High
Shape	Definite shape	No definite shape
Melting and boiling points	Low	High
State at room temperature	Liquid or gaseous	Solid
The occurrence of the chemical bond	Between non-metals	Between a metal and a non-metal
Bond type	Directional	Non-directional
Hardness	Not very hard except silicone and diamond	Tend to be quite hard due to crystalline structure
Speed of reaction	Comparatively low	Comparatively instantaneous
Solubility	Compounds not soluble in water and other polar solvents	Compounds soluble in water and other polar solvents
Electrical conductivity	Poor conductors	Good conductor while in a molten state

Core Difference Between Covalent and Ionic Bonds

Covalent bond occurs when atoms share their outer shell electrons with each other while ionic bond occurs when one atom donates an electron to another atom

Covalent bond have low polarity while ionic bond has a high polarity

Ionic bond has no definite shape while covalent bond has a definite shape

Ionic bond has a high boiling point while the covalent bond has a low boiling point

Covalent bond has a low melting point while the ionic bond has a high boiling point

Ionic bonds exist in compounds that are solid at room temperature while covalent bonds exist in liquids or gaseous compounds at room temperature

Ionic bonds exist between the interaction of cations and anions while covalent exist neutral atoms

The ionic bonds are non-directional while covalent bonds are the direction

Ionic bonds exist between a metal and non-metal while covalent bond exists between non-metals

Covalent bonds are poor conductors whereas ionic bonds are good conductors in a molten state

The rate of reaction of covalent bonds is comparatively low whereas that of an ionic bond is comparatively instantaneous

Ionic bonds dissociate in water to result in ions whereas covalent bonds do not dissociate in water

The chemical reaction between covalent bonds is molecular while that of an ionic bond is ionic in nature

The bond angle of covalent bonds is constant whereas that of an ionic bond is variable

Examples of ionic bond compounds are Sodium chloride and Sulfuric Acid whereas that of covalent bond compounds are Methane and Hydrochloric acid.

Similarities between Ionic and Covalent Bonds

Both are strong bonds

Both are primary bonds

Both result in the formation of complex structures

Both result in the formation of stable compounds

The reaction is exothermic

The resulting compound has a neutral charge

Both are malleable

Comparison Video

Summary

The difference between ionic and covalent bonds is that covalent bonds are weak and the compound exists in a gaseous state whereas ionic bonds are strong and the compound exists solid state.

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