Covalent Bonding

Covalent bonding is a type of chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms. It occurs between non-metal atoms and is characterized by the sharing of valence electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.

Key Concepts

• Electron Sharing: In a covalent bond, two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons to attain a stable configuration.
• Electronegativity: The ability of an atom to attract shared electrons. It determines the unequal sharing of electrons in a covalent bond.
• Types of Covalent Bonds: Single, double, and triple covalent bonds are formed by the sharing of one, two, or three pairs of electrons, respectively.
• Molecular Structure: Covalent bonding gives rise to various molecular shapes, including linear, trigonal planar, tetrahedral, and more, based on the number of shared electron pairs and lone pairs around the central atom.
• Polarity: Covalent bonds can be polar or nonpolar depending on the difference in electronegativity between the atoms involved.

Study Guide

1. What is a covalent bond?
2. How is a covalent bond formed?
3. What is electronegativity and how does it influence covalent bonding?
4. Explain the concept of electron sharing in covalent bonds.
5. Describe the types of covalent bonds and provide examples of molecules with each type.
6. How does covalent bonding contribute to the formation of molecular shapes?
7. Differentiate between polar and nonpolar covalent bonds.
8. Discuss the role of covalent bonding in the properties of substances.
9. Illustrate the process of drawing Lewis dot structures for covalent molecules.
10. Explain the significance of covalent bonding in the formation of organic compounds.