Ionic vs covalent bonding – atomic models (NaCl, MgO, Cl₂, HCl, H₂O, CO₂, N₂)

ChemistryChemical BondingAges 15–16

Two atoms approach each other: a metal fully transfers an electron to a nonmetal, forming oppositely charged ions that attract (ionic bonding), or two nonmetals share a pair of electrons (covalent bonding, shifted toward the more electronegative atom if polar). Students pick a molecule and see the electronegativity difference Δχ on a 0.4–1.7 scale, the Lewis structure, and the bond type.