Covalent and partially covalent bonds are often misunderstood, with distinctions not always clear-cut. Purely covalent bonds are primarily found in homonuclear diatomic molecules, such as O2 or N2, where atoms share electrons equally. However, even these bonds can exhibit some ionic character due to differences in electronegativity. The classification of bonds as covalent or ionic is not precise; it exists on a continuum with many compounds displaying characteristics of both types. The boundary between covalent and ionic bonds is largely a matter of convention. Advanced methods like Bader analysis can help quantify the contributions of covalent and ionic character in bonds, providing a more nuanced understanding of their nature.
