Final answer:
Ionic bonds result from the transfer of electrons, while covalent bonds result from the sharing of electrons. In ionic bonds, the charge of the atoms changes, whereas in covalent bonds, the charge of the atoms remains neutral.
Step-by-step explanation:
When atoms bond together, they can form different types of bonds, such as ionic bonds or covalent bonds. Ionic bonds occur when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of positively charged ions and negatively charged ions. Covalent bonds occur when atoms share electrons, resulting in a stable arrangement of electrons for both atoms involved.
In an ionic bond, the atoms involved lose or gain electrons, resulting in a change in their charges. The atom that loses electrons becomes positively charged, while the atom that gains electrons becomes negatively charged. For example, in the formation of sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium loses an electron and becomes a positively charged ion (Na+), while chlorine gains that electron and becomes a negatively charged ion (Cl-).
In a covalent bond, the atoms involved share electrons, but the overall charge of the atoms remains neutral. For example, in the formation of a water molecule (H2O), oxygen and hydrogen atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds. Oxygen has a higher electronegativity, resulting in a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom and partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms.
Learn more about Types of chemical bonds and their effect on atom charges