How do ionic and molecular bonds differ?

Question

Owen Ambrose · Accepted Answer

A positively charged metal or cation and a negatively charged non-metal or anion form an ionic compound through electrochemical attraction; if the charges of the cation and anion are equal and opposite, they will attract one another like the positive and negative poles of a magnet. Lets take the ionic formula for Calcium Chloride is #CaCl_2# Chlorine is a Halogen in the 17th column or p5 group.
Chlorine has 7 valence electrons. It needs one electron to make it stable at 8 electrons in its valence shells. This makes chlorine a #Cl^(−1)# anion. Ionic bonds form when the charges between the metal cation and non-metal anion are equal and opposite. This means that two #Cl^(−1)# anions will balance with one #Ca^(+2)# cation. This makes the formula for calcium chloride, #CaCl_2#. Phosphorus #s^2 p^3# has a 5 valence electrons and needs three more to complete the rule of octet.  Chlorine #s^2 p^5# has 7 valence electrons and needs one to complete the rule of octet.   Three Chlorine  atoms will each share the unpaired electrons with the three unshared electrons on the Phosphorus. The resulting shared electron bonds form a compound of Phosphorus trichloride or #PCl_3#. I hope this was useful to you, teacher.

Natalie Anton · Answer

undefined Whereas molecular bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms to form molecules held together by covalent bonds, ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons between atoms to form ions held together by electrostatic forces.