Chemistry

An ionic bond is the strong forces of attraction holding together oppositely charged ions.

Ionic Bonding Properties:

• They have high melting points and boiling points
• They dissolve to form solutions that conduct electricity
• They conduct electricity when molten

A covalent bond is a shared pair of electrons 

An atom makes one covalent bond for each electron needed to build its outer shell

 Properties Of Small Covalent Molecules

• Low melting and boiling points (weak forces between molecules)
• Insulators of heat and electricity (no charged particles)

Examples : oxygen, nitrogen, methane, ammonia

Only weak forces between molecules so only a little energy (heat) is required to overcome the forces and allow the molecules to seperate.

 Properties Of Giant Covalent Molecules

• Made from carbon atoms only

• High melting and boiling points as melting/boiling point requires a large amount of strong covalent bonds to be broken, this required a large amount of energy.

• Very hard and strong due to large number of covalent bonds

• Insulator of electricity (no charged particles)

Example: Diamond