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Nonmetal Bonding Type from Electronegativity Difference

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A large electronegativity difference favors ionic bonding; a small difference between two nonmetals favors covalent bonding.

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Sodium and chlorine, far apart in electronegativity, form ionic NaCl; two chlorine atoms form covalent Cl2.

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Electronegativity difference sets a trend, not a hard cutoff — many bonds fall between purely ionic and purely covalent.