Final answer:
Ionic compounds are formed between a metal and a nonmetal and are held together by ionic bonds, while covalent compounds are formed between two nonmetals and are held together by covalent bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ionic compounds are formed between a metal and a nonmetal and are held together by ionic bonds, which are formed through the transfer of electrons. Covalent compounds, on the other hand, are formed between two nonmetals and are held together by covalent bonds, which are formed through the sharing of electrons.
For example, sodium chloride (NaCl) is an ionic compound because it is formed by the transfer of an electron from the metal sodium to the nonmetal chlorine. Water (H2O), on the other hand, is a covalent compound because it is formed by the sharing of electrons between the nonmetal hydrogen and oxygen.