CHEMICAL BONDS

Force keeping atoms and molecules together is called bond. Atoms come together and
becomes more stable and energy is released during this process. Thus, we can say that all
bonding reactions are exothermic. On the contrary, all breaking bonds reactions are endothermic.
Valence electrons of atoms and molecules play role in bonding. If bond binds atoms together,
then we call it chemical bond. However, if bond bind molecules together, we call it molecular
bond.

Chemical Bonds:
There are two types of chemical bonds;
 Ionic bond
 Covalent bond
While elements form compounds they tend to have electron configuration of noble gases. Except
from He, all noble gases end their electron configuration with ns2 np6. In other words all shells of
noble gases are filled. They are too stable. Atoms also want to be stable and complete their
number of valence electrons to 8.

Lewis Structures of Atoms

Representations of the valence electron around symbol of elements with dots. For example;
2 2 6 1
11Na=1s 2s 2p 3s
As you can see Na has one valence electron in its outermost shell. We show it with Lewis
formula;
Na●
On the other if 1s, 2s and 2p orbitals are full, then they are not represented with Lewis formula.
Example: 17Cl write Lewis formula of Cl atom.
2 2 6 2 5
17Cl=1s 2s 2p 3s 3p

Valence electrons of ions can also be represented with Lewis formula. For example;
Lewis formula of 9F-1 is;

1. Ionic Bond:
It is the bond between positively and negatively charged ions. Metals and nonmetal atoms join
together with ionic bond. Metal atom lose electron and becomes positively charged and nonmetal
atom accept electron and becomes negatively charged. Force keeping ions together is
electrostatic attractive force.
 In periodic table A group metals lose electrons equal to their group number. For example;
metals in I A lose 1 electron and becomes +1 ion, metals in II A lose 2 electrons and
becomes +2 ion, metals in III A lose 3 electrons and becomes +3 ion.
 Nonmetals accept electron that completes its valence electrons to noble gases. For
example; nonmetals in V A group accept 3 electrons and becomes -3 ion, nonmetals in VI
A group accept 2 electrons and becomes -2 ion, nonmetals in VII A group accept 1
electron and becomes -1 ion.
Dr.C.V.NARASIMHA MURTHY(ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR) DEPT OF ZOOLOGY, VSUPGC,
KAVALI.CHEMISTRY OF BIOMOLECULES NOTES –UNIT – I (2017-18)
  During ionic bonding process, number of accepted electrons is equal to number of lost
electrons.
Example: Analyze bond between NaCl molecule.
+ -
11Na loses 1 electron and becomes Na . 17Cl accepts one electron and becomes Cl . Attraction
between opposite ions form ionic bond.
 Strength of ionic bond is directly related to tendency of losing electron of metals and
accepting electron of nonmetals.

2. Covalent Bond:
If atoms share their valence electrons during bonding process, we call it covalent bond. There is
no electron transfer. This type of bond is seen in between two or more nonmetal atoms. To have
covalent bond, atoms must have at least one half filled orbital. Covalent bond between H2
molecule is shown below;

 Number of covalent bond is equal to number of half filled orbitals.

 First covalent bond between two atoms is called sigma bond and showed with "σ".
 There is only one sigma bond between two atoms and other bonds are called pi bonds and
showed with "π".
Example: Analyze bond between O2 molecule.
2 2 4
8O=1s 2s 2p
Or showing with orbital and Lewis dot schema;

As you can see from orbital schema and Lewis

dot formula O has two half filled orbitals and it can does two bond. First bond is called sigma
and showed below;

These O atoms share their second electrons and becomes O2 molecule;

Example: Show covalent bonds of NH3.

Example: Which one of the following statements is false for 8O element.

I. It is nonmetal
II. It can does two bonds

Dr.C.V.NARASIMHA MURTHY(ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR) DEPT OF ZOOLOGY, VSUPGC,

KAVALI.CHEMISTRY OF BIOMOLECULES NOTES –UNIT – I (2017-18)
III. In ground state electron configuration it has two filled orbital
IV. I does covalent bond with 9F element.
V. It does ionic bond with 11Na and forms compound ; Na2O
Solution:
8O has electron configuration in ground state;

I. Since number of valence electrons of 8O is 6, it is nonmetal. True

II. It has two half filled orbital, thus it can does two bonds. True
III. As you can see from orbital schema, 8O has 3 filled orbital in ground state. False
IV. 9F has electron configuration in ground state;
F: 1s22s22p5
F has 7 valence electron and so it is nonmetal. We have learned that two nonmetal atoms join
with covalent bond. True
V. 11Na has electron configuration in ground state;
Na: 1s22s22p63s1
Na gives one electron and becomes Na+ and O accepts 2 electrons and becomes O-2. Thus, bond
between them is ionic bond. True.
Polar Covalent Bond

A Polar Covalent Bond is created when the shared electrons between atoms are not equally
shared. This occurs when one atom has a higher electronegativity than the atom it is sharing
with. The atom with the higher electronegativity will have a stronger pull for electrons (Similiar
to a Tug-O-War game, whoever is stronger usually wins). As a result, the shared electrons will
be closer to the atom with the higher electronegativity, making it unequally shared. A polar
covalent bond will result in the molecule having a slightly positive side (the side containing the
atom with a lower electronegativity) and a slightly negative side (containing the atom with the
higher electronegativity) because the shared electrons will be displaced toward the atom with the
higher electronegativity. As a result of polar covalent bonds, the covalent compound that forms
will have an electrostatic potential. This potential will make the resulting molecule slightly polar,
allowing it to form weak bonds with other polar molecules. One example of molecules forming
weak bonds with each other as a result of an unbalanced electrostatic potential is hydrogen
bonding, where a hydrogen atom will interact with an electronegative hydrogen, fluorine, or
oxygen atom from another molecule or chemical group.

Example: Water, Sulfide, Ozone, etc.

As you can see from the picture above, Oxygen is the big buff creature with the tattoo of "O" on
its arm. The little bunny represents a Hydrogen atom. The blue and red bow tied in the middle of
the rope, pulled by the two creatures represents--the shared pair of electrons--a single bond.
Because the Hydrogen atom is weaker, the shared pair of electrons will be pulled closer to the
Oxygen atom.
Dr.C.V.NARASIMHA MURTHY(ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR) DEPT OF ZOOLOGY, VSUPGC,
KAVALI.CHEMISTRY OF BIOMOLECULES NOTES –UNIT – I (2017-18)
Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A Nonpolar Covalent Bond is created when atoms share their electrons equally. This usually
occurs when two atoms have similar or the same electron affinity. The closer the values of their
electron affinity, the stronger the attraction. This occurs in gas molecules; also known as
diatomic elements. Nonpolar covalent bonds have a similar concept as polar covalent bonds; the
atom with the higher electronegativity will draw away the electron from the weaker one. Since
this statement is true--if we apply this to our diatomic molecules--all the atoms will have the
same electronegativity since they are the same kind of element; thus, the electronegativities will
cancel each other out and will have a charge of 0(A.K.A. Nonpolar covalent bond).

Examples of gas molecules that have a nonpolar covalent bond: Hydrogen gas atom, Nitrogen
gas atoms, etc.

As you can see from the picture above, Hydrogen gas has a total of 2 Hydrogen atoms. Each
Hydrogen atom has 1 valence electron. Since Hydrogen can only fit a max of 2 valence electrons
in its orbital, each Hydrogen atom only needs 1 electron. Each atom has 1 valence electron, so
they can just share, giving each atom two electrons each.

There are two types of atomic bonds - ionic bonds and covalent bonds. They differ in
their structure and properties. Covalent bonds consist of pairs of electrons shared by two atoms,
and bind the atoms in a fixed orientation. Relatively high energies are required to break them (50
- 200 kcal/mol). Whether two atoms can form a covalent bond depends upon their
electronegativity i.e. the power of an atom in a molecule to attract electrons to itself. If two
atoms differ considerably in their electronegativity - as sodium and chloride do - then one of the
atoms will lose its electron to the other atom. This results in a positively charged ion (cation) and
negatively charged ion (anion). The bond between these two ions is called an ionic bond.
Covalent Bonds Ionic Bonds

State at room
Liquid or gaseous Solid
temperature:

Polarity: Low High

A covalent bond is formed between two An ionic bond is formed between a

non-metals that have similar metal and a non-metal. Non-metals(-
electronegativities. Neither atom is ve ion) are "stronger" than the
Formation: "strong" enough to attract electrons from metal(+ve ion) and can get electrons
the other. For stabilization, they share very easily from the metal. These
their electrons from outer molecular orbit two opposite ions attract each other
with others and form the ionic bond.

Dr.C.V.NARASIMHA MURTHY(ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR) DEPT OF ZOOLOGY, VSUPGC,

KAVALI.CHEMISTRY OF BIOMOLECULES NOTES –UNIT – I (2017-18)
 Covalent Bonds Ionic Bonds

Shape: Definite shape No definite shape

Melting point: Low High

Ionic bond, also known as

electrovalent bond, is a type of bond
Covalent bonding is a form of chemical
formed from the electrostatic
bonding between two non metallic atoms
attraction between oppositely
What is it?: which is characterized by the sharing of
charged ions in a chemical
pairs of electrons between atoms and
compound. These kinds of bonds
other covalent bonds.
occur mainly between a metallic and
a non metallic atom.

Boiling point: Low High

Sodium chloride (NaCl), Sulfuric

Examples: Methane (CH4), Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Acid (H2SO4 )

Occurs
Two non-metals One metal and one non-metal
between:

Dr.C.V.NARASIMHA MURTHY(ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR) DEPT OF ZOOLOGY, VSUPGC,

KAVALI.CHEMISTRY OF BIOMOLECULES NOTES –UNIT – I (2017-18)