Can an element form both an ionic and a metallic bond with another atom?

 An element can form both an ionic and a metallic bond with another atom, but the conditions and the nature of the atoms involved would determine which type of bond is formed.

Ionic bond: An ionic bond is formed between a metal and a nonmetal, when the metal loses electrons to become a cation, and the nonmetal gains electrons to become an anion. This bond results from the electrostatic attraction between the positive and negative ions.

Metallic bond: A metallic bond is formed between metal atoms, when the metal atoms lose electrons to become positive ions and these positive ions are held together by a cloud of delocalized electrons. This bond results from the attraction between the positively charged metal ions and the delocalized electrons.

An element can have properties of both metal and nonmetal, such as in the case of elements from group 13 to group 16 (Boron to Sulfur) of the periodic table, which are called metalloids. An element like this could form both metallic and ionic bond depending on the other atom it is bonding with. For example, Boron (B) can form metallic bond with other B atoms, but also can form an ionic bond with another nonmetal like chlorine (Cl) to form BCl3.

It's worth noting that this is a general rule and in some cases, the properties of an element can be influenced by the surrounding environment, and the type of bond formed can be different than the general rule.

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