Here's why:
* Electronegativity: This is a measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond.
* Ionic Bonds: Form when there is a significant difference in electronegativity between two atoms. The atom with higher electronegativity will "steal" an electron from the atom with lower electronegativity, resulting in the formation of ions (charged particles).
* Covalent Bonds: Form when atoms share electrons. These bonds usually occur when the electronegativity difference is less than 1.7.
Example:
* Sodium (Na) has a low electronegativity, while chlorine (Cl) has a high electronegativity. The difference in electronegativity is large enough to form an ionic bond, resulting in the formation of sodium chloride (NaCl) or table salt.
