Abstract

SALAS-BANUET, Guillermo  and  RAMIREZ-VIEYRA, José. Ionic, covalent and metallic. Educ. quím [online]. 2010, vol.21, n.2, pp.118-125. ISSN 0187-893X.

This study presents the history of the conceptual development of a model which integrates and distinguishes three types of primary bonds. A triangle is obtained by plotting two of any different variables of the electronegativity for binary compounds. This allows the segregation of the well defined ionic, covalent and metallic compounds into three regions. The aims of this work are: 1. To popularize the model and to encourage its use among the students; 2. To display its advantages and limits; 3. To infer the impact of the model on: a) The classification of the compounds primarily covalent, ionic and metallic; b) The concept of the intermediate bonding between covalent and metallic for homonuclear compounds and among covalent, ionic and metallic for heteronuclear ones, and c) The definition of a criterion to divide between ionic and covalent compounds.

Keywords : bonding triangle; electronegativity; ionic; covalent; metallic.