Name____________________________________________Date______________________Period__________

Bond Character

A chemical bond between atoms of different elements is never completely ionic or covalent. The character of
the bond depends on how strongly each of the bonded atoms attracts electrons.

Electronegativity and Bond Character

Electronegativity Difference Bond Character

> 2.1 Ionic
0.5 – 2.0 Polar covalent
0 – 0.4 Nonpolar covalent

Electronegativity Periodic Table

Using your table of electronegativity values to determine what type of bond the two atoms will
form.

1. Cr and O

2. Sr and O

3. Cl and Br

4. H and F

5. Na and S

6. Br and Br

7. Al and F

8. Cu and Cl
Name____________________________________________Date______________________Period__________
6.1 Polarity & Electronegativity Worksheet

1. What does it mean to for a bond to be polar?

2. How are ionic bonds and covalent bonds different?

3. How does a polar covalent bond differ from a nonpolar covalent bond?

4. How does electronegativity values help determine the type of bond created?

5. For each of the following molecules, determine if it is covalent, polar, or ionic.

Show your work by listing the electronegativities of each element in the bond.

Molecule Electronegativity Difference in Bond Type

Values Electronegativity
H – Cl
H–H
H-I
Cl - Cl
C–O
Ca – O
H– O
Al – Fe

6. For each of the following sets of elements, identify the element expected to be most electronegative (EN) and
which is expected to be least electronegative (EN).

a. K, Sc, Ca most EN= least EN=

b. Br, F, At most EN= least EN=

c. C, O, N most EN= least EN=