Chemical Bonding and Atomic Structure

Vocabulary flashcards covering atomic structure, electron configurations, and bonding rules for carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Covalent bond

A bond formed when atoms share electrons to complete stable electron pairs.

Carbon

An atom that forms a total of $4$ bonds, which can be four single bonds or combinations of single and double bonds.

Hydrogen

An atom that forms $1$ bond.

Oxygen

An atom that forms $2$ bonds.

Nitrogen

An element with an atomic number of $7$ that usually forms $3$ bonds, either as three single bonds or a triple bond.

Atomic number of Nitrogen

$7$, which means $2$ electrons are in the first inner shell and $5$ electrons are in the second shell.

Methane ($\text{CH}_4$)

A molecule consisting of one carbon atom connected to four hydrogen atoms by covalent single bonds.

Ethane

A molecule composed of two $\text{CH}_3$ groups where each carbon atom forms $4$ single bonds.

Outer shell stability

The stable condition achieved when an atom has $8$ electrons in its outermost shell.