Question detail
What is the main difference between ionic and covalent bonding?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Key ideas in chemistry
Question
- A. Ionic bonding involves sharing electrons, while covalent bonding involves transferring electrons.
- B. Ionic bonding involves transferring electrons, while covalent bonding involves sharing electrons.
- C. Ionic bonding occurs only in metals, while covalent bonding occurs in non-metals.
- D. Ionic bonding results in molecules, while covalent bonding results in compounds.
Answer
Ionic bonding involves transferring electrons, while covalent bonding involves sharing electrons.
Explanation
The key difference is that ionic bonding involves the transfer of electrons to form charged ions, while covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons between atoms.
Common mistake
Confusing Bonding Types
Students often confuse electron transfer in ionic bonding with electron sharing in covalent bonding.
To fix this, remember that ionic bonding involves one atom transferring electrons to another, while covalent bonding involves atoms sharing electrons.
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