learning goal: to use electronegativity or metal versus nonmetal classifications to distinguish covalent, polar covalent, and ionic bonds. when two bonded atoms attract electrons with equal strength, the result is a nonpolar covalent bond. a polar covalent bond is one in which the electrons are unequally shared between the atoms. an ionic bond results when the sharing is so unequal that fully charged ions form. electronegativity difference can be used to predict bond type. if electronegativities differ by more than 2 units, the bond is