Tag Archives: Ionic

Ionic vs. Covalent Coumpounds

1 Reply

Though they both contain atoms, ionic compounds and covalent compounds have lots of different differences.

FACTS:

Ionic Compound:
Ionic Compound is a metal + non-metal formula.
Ionic Compound atoms give electrons in order to become stable. Which is the reasonwhy they are electrically charged.

Covalent Compond:
Covalent Cmpound is a non-metal + non-metal formula.
Covalent Compound atoms share electrons in order to become stable. They are not electrically charged.

BOHR MODEL:

Ionic Compound:
Each atom is surrounded by a box within the box it shows it’s protons, neutrons and all electrons. There is a charge outside the top right corner of the box. The atoms are seperated in their own drawing, none of it is connecting.
Ionic compound bohr diagram

Covalent Compound:
The atoms are all attached, to show how the atoms share the electrons. The protons, neutrons and electrons are all shown in the atom. There is no box or charge.
Covalent compound bohr diagram

LEWIS MODEL:

Ionic Compound:
The atoms are once again surrounded by a box with the charge at the top right corner. The atom only shows the symbol in the middle with the valence electrons on the outside.
Ionic compound lewis diagram

Covalent Compound:
The atoms have a line connecting the non-metals together on the sides where they are sharing electrons. Where there is no connecting parter, the outer electrons are shown. The atom only shows the symbol in the middle with the valence electrons on the outside (depending if it is connecting and sharing electrons with a different atom).
Covalent compound lewis diagram

NAMES:

Ionic Compound:
Ionic Compounds have no prefixes, the last atom always ends with “ide” unless it is a polyatomic ions.

Covalent Compound:
Covalent Compounds use prefixes for all atoms (ex/ mono, di, tri, tetra…). All ending atoms end with “ide” unless it is a polyatomic ion.

FORMULA:

Ionic Compound:
Formula’s for Ionic and Covalent both resemble the same for look wise. In order to figure out how many atoms you need, you will need to perform an equation.
Ex/ Aluminum and Fluorine Al+3 F-1 ——- = 1 Atom ——- = 3 Atoms +3 -3

Covalent Compound:
Formula’s for Ionic and Covalent both resemble the same for look wise. You will be able to figure out the formula by looking at the prefixes.
Ex/ Dinitrogen Tetrachloride . N Cl . 2 4