Question

Define: (a) an electrovalent compound (b) a covalent compound.

Answer 1

(a) The compounds that are formed by an electrovalent bond, i.e., by the transfer of one or more electrons from one atom to another atom, are called electrovalent or ionic compounds.
Examples of ionic compounds are sodium chloride (NaCl) and magnesium chloride (MgCl₂).

(b) The compounds that are formed by a covalent bond, i.e., by mutual sharing of electrons between the atoms, are called covalent or molecular compounds.
Examples of covalent compounds are glucose and urea.