What's the rule to covalent character

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In summary, determining whether a compound is ionic or covalent can be based on factors such as the presence of a metal bonded to a polyatomic molecule, differences in electronegativities, Fajan's rules, and dipole moment calculations. However, there are also intermediate cases where these factors may not be enough to determine the type of bond.
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hms.tech
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What is the general rule to find out some compound is ionic or covalent?

For e.g: Tetramethyl-lead(IV) (CH3)4Pb, has lead metal in it.
Normally a metal bonded to a polyatomic molecule (or ion) is ionic, but i highly doubt it is the case here. I think (CH3)4Pb is covalent rather than ionic.

Another e.g is of Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) (in solid form) which was referred to-by my chemistry professor-as a covalent compound, together with the proof that it sublimes at about 200 Degrees C
 
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There are no strict boundaries between covalent and ionic bonds. You may use the differences in electronegativities, Fajan's rules, dipole moment calculations as indicators, but the cases you mentioned fall right into intermediate cases.
 

What is covalent character?

Covalent character refers to the degree to which two atoms in a molecule share electrons. It is a measure of the bond strength between atoms and is influenced by factors such as electronegativity, bond length, and bond angle.

How is covalent character different from ionic character?

Covalent character involves the sharing of electrons between atoms, whereas ionic character involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to another. Covalent bonds are typically stronger than ionic bonds due to the equal sharing of electrons.

What factors affect the amount of covalent character in a bond?

The amount of covalent character in a bond is affected by the electronegativity difference between atoms, the size of the atoms, and the presence of any polarizing groups. Generally, larger atoms and atoms with lower electronegativities will exhibit more covalent character.

How is covalent character measured?

Covalent character is measured using various techniques such as bond energy calculations, spectroscopic methods, and computational methods. These methods can determine the strength of the bond between atoms and the degree of electron sharing.

What are the implications of covalent character in molecules?

The amount of covalent character in a molecule can affect its physical and chemical properties. Molecules with high covalent character tend to have lower melting and boiling points, be more soluble in nonpolar solvents, and exhibit stronger intermolecular forces.

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