What is "purely"? Do you mean the difference between covalent and polar covalent? In general when there is a large difference in electronegativity between two atoms they will form an ionic bond. When the electronegativities are similar they will form a covalent bond. When there is some difference in electronegativity but not a lot then they will form a polar covalent bond. Remember that covalent bonds occur when atoms share electrons fairly equally while ionic bonds are formed between ions that would prefer to retain or donate electrons.