What is the difference between an ionic bond and a covalent bond?
Atoms Hold On
What is the difference between an ionic bond and a covalent bond?
Atoms are clingy. They almost never want to be alone — they want to be near other atoms, holding on somehow. And it turns out there are two very different ways for atoms to hold on. One is a tug-of-war. The other is holding hands. That's the whole story, so let's meet the players.
First, the thing atoms are squabbling over: electrons. Electrons are tiny specks that buzz around the outside of every atom. Atoms feel comfortable when their outer ring of electrons is nice and full — and most atoms aren't quite there. So they're always either a little short, or carrying one too many they'd happily give away.
