Ionic hydrides are usually formed by alkaline and alkaline earth metals reacting with hydrogen, whereas covalent hydrides are formed by nonmetals like boron, phosphorus, and silicon.
Ionic hydrides are compounds formed between hydrogen and highly electropositive metals, where hydrogen exists as the hydride ion \( H^- \).
- MgH\(_2\) is an ionic hydride because it is formed by the combination of magnesium (a metal) and hydrogen, where the hydrogen acts as \( H^- \).
- BH\(_3\), PH\(_3\), and SiH\(_4\) are covalent hydrides, not ionic.