What is formed when both electrons of a covalent bond go to one atom?

When both electrons of a covalent bond are transferred to one atom instead of being shared equally between the two atoms, that atom effectively obtains an extra electron, leading to a negative charge. This process causes the atom that gains the electrons to become more negatively charged, which defines it as an anion. In this scenario, the atom that loses its electrons becomes positively charged, resulting in the formation of a cation.

The differentiation occurs because when one atom claims both electrons, it typically occurs between atoms with a significant difference in electronegativity. The atom that receives both electrons becomes a negatively charged anion, while the atom that loses the electrons is classified as a cation, as it has lost one or more of its own negatively charged electrons.

This phenomenon is crucial in understanding ionic bonding, where the complete transfer of electrons leads to the formation of ions and the resulting ionic compounds. Knowing the terminology surrounding these species helps in grasping the nature of chemical bonding and the behavior of substances in various chemical reactions.