Question

The bond between hydrogen and fluorine in a molecule of hydrogen fluoride. $HF$ is sometimes considered an ionic bond and other times is considered a covalent bond.
What is the reason for this confusion?

• A. The electronegativity difference between the two atoms is not high enough to be considered an ionic bond even though $H$ is a metal.
• B. The hydrogen atoms is sometimes considered a metal and in other considered a non-metal.
• C. The electronegativity difference between the two atoms is high enough to be considered an ionic bond even though $H$ is a non-metal.
• D. The fluorine atoms are sometimes considered a metal and in other times considered a non-metal.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The electronegativity difference between the two atoms is high enough to be considered an ionic bond even though $H$ is a non-metal.

Although, both hydrogen and fluorine and non metals, electronegativity difference between the both of them is too high enough to be considered an ionic bond even though $H$ is non-metal.