Chemical Bond Type Identifier – Determine Ionic, Covalent, or Polar Bonds Instantly

Use this free online Bond Type Identifier to determine whether a bond is ionic, covalent, polar covalent, or metallic. Enter two elements and instantly discover the type of chemical bond formed between them. Ideal for chemistry students and teachers.

A smart tool that identifies the type of chemical bond between two elements – Ionic, Covalent, Polar, or Metallic – based on electronegativity and properties.

Chemical Bond Type Identifier

Tool Information & Guidelines

How to Use:

  • Enter the chemical symbol for the first element in the "Element 1" field (e.g., Na, O, C).
  • Enter the chemical symbol for the second element in the "Element 2" field (e.g., Cl, H, N).
  • Symbols can be entered in uppercase or lowercase (e.g., 'cl' or 'CL' for Chlorine). The tool will process them correctly.
  • Click the "Analyze Bond Type" button or press Enter after filling both fields.
  • The tool will display the predicted bond type and a color-coded result.
  • Click "Show/Hide Explanation" for details on the calculation and bond classification.

Supported Elements:

This tool supports the following chemical elements (symbols displayed in standard capitalization):

Note: Electronegativity data for some very heavy elements may be estimated or less precise.

Notes on Bond Types:

Ionic Bond
Typically forms between a metal and a nonmetal. Involves the complete transfer of one or more electrons from one atom to another, creating ions. Characterized by a large electronegativity difference (ΔEN ≥ 1.7).
Polar Covalent Bond
Forms between two nonmetal atoms (or a metalloid and a nonmetal) with a moderate difference in electronegativity (0.4 ≤ ΔEN < 1.7). Electrons are shared unequally, leading to partial charges on the atoms.
Nonpolar Covalent Bond
Usually forms between two identical nonmetal atoms or two different nonmetal atoms with a very small electronegativity difference (ΔEN < 0.4). Electrons are shared (almost) equally.
Metallic Bond
Forms between metal atoms. Valence electrons are delocalized and form a "sea of electrons" that surrounds the positively charged metal ions. This allows for high electrical and thermal conductivity.
Electronegativity (EN)
A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons. The Pauling scale is commonly used. The difference in electronegativity (ΔEN) between two atoms is a key factor in determining bond type.


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