Percent Ionic Character Calculator

Estimate ionic character from electronegativity difference.

Percent ionic character (%) 71.155

ΔEN 2.23

Formula: % ionic = (1 − e^(−0.25·ΔEN²)) × 100

Step-by-step with your numbers:

1. Values used:

2. Electronegativity 1 = 3.16

3. Electronegativity 2 = 0.93

5. Percent ionic character = 71.155%

6. ΔEN = Electronegativity 1 - Electronegativity 2 = 3.16 - 0.93 = 2.23

Did we solve your problem today?

Pauling's relation estimates how ionic a bond is from the electronegativity gap.

The math behind it

% ionic character = (1 − e^(−0.25 × ΔEN²)) × 100. Above ~50% the bond is considered ionic.

NaCl (ΔEN 2.23) → ~71% ionic.

100%?

No real bond is fully ionic; even NaCl has some covalent character.