Chemistry Covalent Bonds

covalent bond

A bond formed when atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.

bond length

The distance between two bonded atoms at their minimum potential energy.

bond energy

The energy required to break the bonds in one mole of a chemical compound.

nonpolar covalent bond

A covalent bond in the bonding electrons are equally attracted to both atoms.

polar covalent bond

A covalent bond in which a shared pair of electrons is held more closely by one of the atoms.

dipole

A molecule in which one end has a partial positive charge and the other end has a partial negative charge.

valence electrons

An electron that is found in the outermost energy level of an atom, and that determines the atom's chemical properties.

Lewis structure

A structural formula in which electrons are represented by dots; dot pairs or dashes between two atomic symbols represent pairs in covalent bonds.

electron-dot formula

A technique for showing the valence electrons of an atom.

unshared pair

A nonbonding pair of electrons in the valence shell of an atom.

single bond

A covalent bond in which two atoms share one pair of electrons.

double bond

A covalent bond in which two atoms share two pairs of electrons.

triple bond

A covalent bond in which two atoms share three pairs of electrons.

mono-

A prefix representing one atom.

di-

A prefix representing two atoms.

tri-

A prefix representing three atoms.

tetra-

A prefix representing four atoms.

penta-

A prefix representing five atoms.

SO₂

sulfur dioxide

SO₃

sulfur trioxide

P₂O₅

diphosphorus pentoxide

CO

carbon monoxide

CO₂

carbon dioxide

CCl₄

carbon tetrachloride

SF₄

sulfur tetrafluoride

PBr₅

phosphorus pentabromide

P₂O₅

diphoshorus pentoxide

Si₃N₄

trisilicon tetranitrogen

XeF₄

xenon tetrafluoride

CF₄

carbon tetrafluoride

CS₂

carbon disulfide

N₂O

dinitrogen monoxide

N₂

An example of a diatomic molecule with a triple bond.

O₂

An example of a diatomic molecule with a double bond.

H₂

An example of a diatomic molecule with a single bond.

H.

The electron-dot notation for hydrogen.

H:H

A Lewis structure for a hydrogen molecule.

O=O

A structural formula for an oxygen molecule.

He:

The electron-dot notation for helium.

NaCl

An example of a compound with an ionic bond.

CO₂

An example of a compound with a covalent bond.