What is the difference between ionic and covalent compounds?

a.

Covalent compounds are always poor conductors of electricity while ionic compounds conduct electricity well when melted or dissolved.

b.

Covalent compounds can be solid, liquid or gas, but ionic compounds are solids.

c.

In covalent compounds the elements present are usually close together on the periodic table whereas in ionic compounds they are usually well separated.

d.

All of the above.

Answer;

D. All the above

Covalent compounds are always poor conductors of electricity while ionic compounds conduct electricity well when melted or dissolved. Covalent compounds can be solid, liquid or gas, but ionic compounds are solids. In covalent compounds the elements present are usually close together on the periodic table whereas in ionic compounds they are usually well separated. Explanation; Ionic compounds are compounds that are formed from strong electrostatic interactions between ions. Ionic bonding occurs between a nonmetal, which acts as an electron acceptor, and a metal, which acts as an electron donor. The atoms involved in ionic bonding lose or gain electrons and form positively or negatively charged ions. Ionic compound are good conductors of electricity both in molten and aqueous form,. while covalent compound are poor conductors of electricity. Covalent compounds on the other hand are compounds that have bonds where electrons are shared between atoms. These types bonds mostly occur between nonmetals or between two atoms of the same element.