Which one of the following is a covalent compound?

Which one of the following is a covalent compound?

Calcium oxide
Sodium nitride
Silicon carbide
Zinc sulphide
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
Among the given options, Silicon carbide (SiC) is predominantly a covalent compound.
Covalent compounds are formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms, typically non-metals or metalloids. Ionic compounds are formed by the transfer of electrons between a metal and a non-metal, resulting in the formation of ions held together by electrostatic attraction.
Calcium oxide (CaO), Sodium nitride (Na₃N), and Zinc sulphide (ZnS) are compounds formed between a metal and a non-metal. While ZnS has some covalent character, CaO and Na₃N are strongly ionic. SiC is a ceramic material where silicon and carbon atoms are bonded covalently in a crystal lattice structure, forming a giant covalent network.