NaOH, or sodium hydroxide, consists of ionic and covalent bonds. The sodium (Na) and hydroxide (OH) ions are held together by ionic bonds, which form when sodium donates an electron to the hydroxide ion. This transfer of electrons results in a strong electrostatic attraction between the positively charged sodium ion and the negatively charged hydroxide ion.
Within the hydroxide ion itself, there is a covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen, formed by the sharing of electrons. This distinction allows NaOH to have unique properties as both an ionic compound and a molecule that contains a covalent bond.