Orbitals and Chemical Bonds

Vocabulary flashcards covering orbitals, electron distribution, valence concepts, and the three main types of chemical bonds (covalent, ionic, hydrogen) with examples from the notes.

Orbitals

Regions around the nucleus where electrons are likely to be found; describe the electron distribution within an atom.

Electron distribution

The pattern or arrangement of where electrons occupy orbitals around an atom.

Valence shell

The outermost electron shell of an atom; its fullness determines bonding behavior.

Valence electrons

Outer-shell electrons involved in bonding and determining an atom's chemical reactivity.

Incomplete valence shells

Valence shells that are not full; atoms may share or transfer electrons to become stable.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond formed when electrons in valence shells are shared between two atoms.

Ionic bond

A chemical bond formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, creating charged ions that attract.

Hydrogen bond

A relatively weak bond between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom.

H2 molecule (covalent example)

Example of covalent bonding where two hydrogen atoms share a pair of electrons to form a bond.

Octet rule / stability goal

Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a full valence shell and a stable electron configuration.