Is F2 ionic or covalent?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking whether the molecule F2, which consists of two fluorine atoms, is held together by ionic bonds or covalent bonds. In this context, covalent bonds are formed when two atoms share electrons, while ionic bonds occur between atoms that transfer electrons. Since F2 is a diatomic molecule where two identical fluorine atoms share electrons, it is covalent.

More Information

F2, or fluorine gas, is composed of two fluorine atoms held together by a non-polar covalent bond because the atoms share electrons equally.

Tips

A common mistake is to confuse F2 with ionic compounds containing fluorine, such as MgF2. Remember that F2 consists of two identical non-metal atoms sharing electrons.

Sources

• Is F2 Ionic or Covalent? - homework.study.com
• Is F2 ionic? - quora.com
• Is f2 ionic molecule? - answers.com