| Last Page | |
| Menu | Index |
| Time Line | exit |
| Ionic and covalent bonding are modern concepts that were unknown
during the period of this simulation. We now distinguish between
two different types of bonds holding compounds together.
Ionic bonding: due to electrostatic forces between oppositely charged ions. Covalent bonding: due to the sharing of electrons between nuclei. Ionic compounds are formed by elements on opposite sides of the periodic table -- between a metal and a nonmetal. They also can involve polyatomic ions such as sulfate, SO4-2. Covalent compounds are formed by elements which are close to each other on the periodic table -- two nonmetals. |
|