Bonding in solids

Classification of bondings

Solids can be classified according to the nature of the bonding between their atomic or molecular components. The traditional classification distinguishes four kinds of bonding: Covalent bonding, which forms network covalent solids (sometimes called simply "covalent solids") Ionic bonding, which forms ionic solids Metallic bonding, which forms metallic solids Weak inter molecular bonding, which forms molecular solids (sometimes anomalously called "covalent solids") Typical members of these classes have distinctive electron distributions, thermodynamic, electronic, and mechanical properties. In particular, the binding energies of these interactions vary widely.

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