Explain the role of electron affinity and ionization potential during the ionic and covalent bond formation?

Question: Explain the role of electron affinity and ionization potential in the formation of ionic and covalent bonds. Answer: In the formation of ionic bonds, atoms with low ionization potential lose electrons to form cations, while atoms with high electron affinity gain electrons to form anions. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions stabilizes the ionic bond. Covalent bonds, on the other hand, are formed between atoms with similar electronegativities and electron affinities, resulting in sharing of electrons instead of electron transfer. Both electron affinity and ionization potential help predict the type of bond that will form between elements based on their differences in electronegativity.