Chemistry Covalent bonds

Covalent Bond

A type of chemical bond where two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.

Types of Covalent Bonds

Single bond, double bond, and triple bond based on the number of electron pairs shared.

Single Bond

A bond formed when two atoms share one pair of electrons.

Double Bond

A bond formed when two atoms share two pairs of electrons.

Triple Bond

A bond formed when two atoms share three pairs of electrons.

Polar Covalent Bond

A bond where electrons are shared unequally due to differences in electronegativity, resulting in partial charges.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A bond where electrons are shared equally between two atoms with similar electronegativities.

Electronegativity

A measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons.

Lewis Structure

A representation of a molecule showing the bonding between atoms and the lone pairs of electrons.

Properties of Covalent Compounds

Covalent compounds typically have low melting and boiling points, poor electrical conductivity, and variable solubility.

Water (H₂O) Molecule

A molecule formed by covalent bonds between oxygen and hydrogen atoms where oxygen shares electrons with two hydrogen atoms.

Octet Rule

The principle that atoms tend to bond in a way that they have eight electrons in their outer shell.

What type of metals are typically involved in covalent bonds?

Covalent bonds are typically formed between nonmetals rather than metals, as nonmetals tend to share electrons more readily.

Ionic Bond vs Covalent Bond

Ionic bonds happen when one atom gives electrons to another, usually between metals and nonmetals, creating charged ions. Covalent bonds occur when two nonmetals share electrons.