CH3NH2, also known as methylamine, is a covalent compound. This classification comes from the type of bonding that occurs between its atoms.
In CH3NH2, the molecule consists of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and nitrogen (N). The carbon atom forms covalent bonds with hydrogen atoms to create the methyl group (CH3), and it is also connected to a nitrogen atom, which is further bonded to two hydrogen atoms in the amine part (NH2).
Covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons, typically occurring between non-metal atoms. In this case, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen are all non-metals, and they share electrons to achieve stability, which is characteristic of covalent compounds.
In contrast, ionic compounds consist of metals and non-metals, where one atom donates electrons to another, forming charged ions that are held together by electrostatic forces. Since CH3NH2 does not involve this type of electron transfer, it is not considered an ionic compound.