Final answer:
The compound H—F involves a polar covalent bond with unequal electron sharing, resulting in partial charges, not a complete transfer of electrons characteristic of ionic compounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The compound H—F does not involve a transfer of electrons in the sense of one atom completely losing electrons and another atom completely gaining them, which is characteristic of ionic bonding. Instead, H—F (hydrogen fluoride) forms a type of chemical bond known as a polar covalent bond. In a polar covalent bond, the bonding electrons are shared between the atoms but are not shared equally. The F atom, having a much greater electronegativity due to its nine protons in the nucleus, exerts a stronger pull on the shared electrons, causing the electrons to spend more time closer to the fluorine atom than to the hydrogen atom. As a result, the F side of the molecule acquires a partial negative charge (δ-), and the H side of the molecule acquires a partial positive charge (δ+). Electron sharing in this way differs from electron transfer, which occurs in the formation of ionic compounds.