COMPOUNDS

5.6 - Classification of Bond Type

The difference in electronegativities of atoms joined by a chemical bond serves as a guideline to classify the bond type. The greater the difference in electronegativity between the atoms sharing the electrons, the more polar the bond. At one extreme is ionic bonding. At the other extreme is non-polar covalent bonding.

Let's focus on the difference in electronegativities for atoms for the three types of bonds:

1. Nonpolar covalent bond
2. Polar covalent bond
3. Ionic bond
   
   

Click on the button below to see a summary of bond type using the difference in electronegativities of atoms as a guide.

	Click on this link to view an animation to compare the difference beween the above three bond types
	(Flash plugin required)

  Section 6.5
Polar Bonds ..p132

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