Ionic Bonds vs Coordinate Covalent Bond

[BBBallIsLife]

Hello,

I had a question that asked to identify what type of bonds were present in this compound. It was a transition metal with a +2 charge and it was interacting with four anionic compounds (the overall charge of the metal-ion complex was +2). The answer was that the bonds were coordinate covalent, and I am kind of confused why they were ionic. I would give specifics of the names and compounds, but don't want to give any spoilers. Can someone brush up the difference between the two?

Thanks

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[3AA]

In an ionic bond, the electrons aren't shared; in a coordinate, covalent bond, the electrons are shared (covalent bond), but the electrons that are being shared solely come from one atom. I would look back to the problem and see if you can tell whether the electrons are being shared, and if so, where they are coming from- based on the answer, seems that the electrons are only coming from the transition metal, thus making a coordinate covalent bond.

 

[aldol16]

With ionic bonds, the quick thing you want to look for is separation of charge by atom. So something like NaCl where Na+ and Cl- have completely separated charges. A coordinate covalent bond (e.g. metal triphenylphosphines) don't have that full separation of charge and so don't have as major of electrostatic interactions.

 

[BBBallIsLife]

thanks for the help guys! makes sense