Question

Covalent bonds are directional, while ionic bonds are non-directional, why.?

Answer 1

The meaning of covalent bonds being directional is that atoms bonded covalently prefer specific orientations in space relative to one another. As a result, molecules in which atoms are bonded covalently have definite shapes. ... Hence covalent bondsshow directionality because of the shape of their electron wavefunction.


That is, in ionic compounds there is no intrinsically preferred direction in which a neighbour should lie for the strength of bonding to be maximized.