Why do you think ionic bonds are generally weaker than covalent bonds?

 The short answer is that they are not always weaker in fact. Some ionic compounds have very strong bonds, while some covalent bonds are quite weak. Usually however, it is easier to break an ionic bond than a covalent one. What determines the actual strength of a bond is quite complex, but let me try to explain the basic principles. this is the best answer i can come up with