How will you know if something is a metallic, covalent, or ionic bond?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Ionic bond forms between a metal and a nonmetal. Metals have 1,2 or 3 valance electrons(or +1, +2, +3 charges) and nonmetals have 5,6 or 7 valance(in other words -1, -2, -3 charges) electrons. In ionic bonds, there is an electron transfer. Metals give their extra valance electrons to nonmetals. When metals give and nonmetals receive electrons, they become stable like the noble gases. This electron transfer process forms ionic bonds between metals and nonmetals. 

On the other hand, covalent bonds form between nonmetals- nonmetals. A nonmetal with 5,6 or 7 valance electrons shares their valance electrons with another nonmetal with 5,6 or 7 valance electrons. This way they have a stable structure by electron sharing. By the way, valance electrons are electrons in the last shell.