Silicon carbide (SiC) is a covalent compound, meaning it is composed of atoms held together by covalent bonds. In SiC, each silicon atom is covalently bonded to four carbon atoms, and each carbon atom is covalently bonded to four silicon atoms. This results in a strong, rigid, and thermally stable material. Ionic compounds, on the other hand, are formed when atoms transfer electrons to each other, creating positively and negatively charged ions that are held together by electrostatic forces.