Types of Chemical Bonds and Molecular Structures

These flashcards cover key concepts related to chemical bonding types, molecular structures, and properties of molecules for exam preparation.

What is a chemical bond?

Forces that hold groups of two or more atoms together allowing them to function as a unit.

What is bond energy?

The energy required to break a chemical bond.

What results from ionic bonding?

An ionic compound, formed when a metal reacts with a nonmetal.

How are electrons involved in ionic bonding?

Electrons are transferred from an atom that can lose them easily to an atom with a high affinity for electrons.

What defines a polar covalent bond?

A bond where electrons are shared unevenly, resulting in partial positive and negative charges.

What is electronegativity?

The relative ability of an atom in a molecule to attract shared electrons.

How is bond polarity determined?

By the difference in electronegativity values of the atoms forming the bond.

What characterizes a bond with a difference in electronegativity of less than 0.5?

It is generally considered purely covalent or nonpolar.

What governs the structure of ionic compounds?

The attractions among oppositely charged cations and anions.

What is a Lewis dot symbol?

A method for depicting valence electrons of atoms using dots.

What does the octet rule state?

Atoms will lose, gain, or share electrons to achieve a noble gas electron configuration.

What happens to cations and anions in ionic bonding?

Cations are smaller than their parent atoms, while anions are larger.

What is the shape of a molecule with two electron groups?

Linear with a bond angle of 180°.

What is the VSEPR model used for?

To predict the 3D shapes of molecules based on electron-pair repulsion.

What is resonance in molecular structure?

When more than one Lewis structure can be drawn for a molecule.