Is Lithium hydride, ionic or covalent bonding?

Question

Santiago Alfonso · Accepted Answer

Ionic Bonding

Ionic bonding forms a connection between hydrogen and lithium. Lithium is a metal; during ionic bonding, lithium loses an electron to become the ion #"Li"^(+)#. Hydrogen acquires an electron from lithium to become the ion #"H":^(-)#. When they react, they each share their single valence electron to make a bond between the two atoms. It is reasonably polar (#"EN"_"H" = 2.2#, #"EN"_"Li" = 0.98#), which is why it is an ionic compound.

Ella Allen · Answer

While LiH is a network solid with alternating Li and H atoms, the bonds between atoms have significant covalent character (only about 30% ionic character based on the electronegativity difference).

Many characteristics that we often associate with so-called "ionic" compounds are not present in lithium hydroxide. It reacts violently with water to produce hydrogen gas and a solution of lithium hydroxide; the 2s orbitals of Li and the 1s orbitals of H overlap within the octahedral network giving rise to bonds with significant covalent character. In the molten state, its conductivity does not increase, indicating Li+ and H- ions do not form in the molten state.

Nicholas Antonuccio · Answer

undefined Lithium hydride exhibits ionic bonding.