Chemical Bonding Basics

Ionic bonding happens when electrons jump from one atom to another, creating oppositely charged ions that attract each other like magnets. You'll see this with metals bonding to non-metals - think sodium chloride (table salt).

These compounds form giant ionic structures in repeating cubic patterns. They've got sky-high melting points because those electrostatic forces between ions are seriously strong. Most ionic compounds dissolve in water and conduct electricity when molten because the ions can move freely.

Covalent bonding is completely different - atoms share electrons instead of transferring them. It's an electrostatic attraction between the shared electrons and the positive nucleus. There's also dative covalent bonding where one atom donates both electrons to form the bond (shown with an arrow in diagrams).

Quick Tip: Remember those polyatomic ions like OH⁻ (hydroxide), NO₃⁻ (nitrate), and NH₄⁺ (ammonium) - they pop up everywhere in chemistry!