How do ionic bond and covalent bond differ?

Answer 1

In ionic bonding, atoms of one element transfer electrons to the other so that both have stable configurations. In this type of bonding, outer-shell electrons are transferred from some atoms to the orbit of other atoms. Thus, atoms are ionized,those which give up electrons become negative ions. This creates an electrostatic bonding force between the atoms and is called ionic bonding.

But in covalent bonding the valence electrons are not transferred from one atoms to the another atoms as in ionic crystals, but the neighbor atoms share their valence electrons under the formation of strong homopolar or covalent bonds. Thus, covalent bonds are formed by the shared electrons pairs between the valence electrons in the incomplete outer shell of the atoms.