(/President Ramon Magsaysay State University

(Formerly Ramon Magsaysay Technological University)

Iba, Zambales, Philippines
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Introduction to Bonding

Introduction

It is rare in nature to encounter individual atoms. Instead, anywhere from two to

hundreds or thousands of atoms tend to join together to form compounds. The oxygen we
breathe, for instance, consists of two oxygen atoms joined together, whereas the hemoglobin
that transports it to our tissues consists of thousands of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
and sulfur atoms joined together. We say two atoms are bonded together.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, it is expected that the learner should be able to:
a. describe the basic features of ionic and covalent bonds;
b. use electron configurations to explain why metals tend to form cations whereas
non-metals tend to form anions; and
c. use the periodic table to determine whether an atom forms a cation or an anion,
and determine its charge using the group number

Discussion

Chemical Bonding
Atoms combine to make compounds by forming chemical bonds. Several different
types of chemical bonds are possible, and once we learn to recognize them, these types of
bonds will help us to understand some of the chemical properties of many substances.

All chemical bonds share two characteristics. First, all bonds involve exchange or
sharing of electrons. We will return to this concept often in this text as we investigate
chemical reactions and properties of molecules. Second, this exchange and sharing of
electrons results in lower energy for the compound relative to the separate atoms. A chemical
bond will not form, or will have only a fleeting existence unless it lowers the overall energy
of the collection of atoms involved.

Bonding is a favorable process because it always forms a compound that is more

stable than the atoms from which it is made. Only the noble gases in group 8A of the periodic
table are particularly stable as individual atoms; that is, the noble gases do not readily react
to form bonds.

Since chemical reactivity is based on electronic configuration, the electronic

configuration of the noble gases must be especially stable to begin with. As a result, one
overriding principle explains the process of bonding.
 Bonding is the joining of two atoms in a stable arrangement.
 In bonding, elements gain, lose, or share electrons to attain the electronic
configuration of the noble gas closest to them in the periodic table.
Chemical bonds can be divided into three broad categories: ionic, covalent and metallic.

Ionic Bonding

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 Some compound are composed of collections of oppositely charged ions that form an
extended array called lattice. The bonding in these compounds is called ionic bonding. To
form the ions that make up the compound, one substance loses an electron to become a
cation, while another gains an electron to become an anion. Ionic compounds form extended
systems or lattices of alternating positive and negative charges.

The position of an element in the periodic table determines the type of bonds it makes.
Ionic bonds form between a metal on the left side of the periodic table and a nonmetal
on the right side. For example, when the metal sodium (Na) bonds to the nonmetal chlorine
(Cl2), the ionic compound sodium chloride (NaCl) forms. Since ionic compounds are
composed of ions—charged species in which the number of protons and electrons in an
atom is not equal.

Metallic Bonding
Metals represent another type of extended system, but here chemical bonding is
totally different. In metals, the atoms are once again arranged in lattice, but positively and
negatively charged species do not alternate. Instead, the nuclei and some fraction of their
electrons comprise a positively charged “core” localized at these lattice points, and other
electrons move more or less freely throughput the whole array. This is called metallic
bonding. Metallic bonding leads to electrical conductivity because electrons can move easily
through the bulk material.

Covalent Bonding
When electrons are shared between pairs of atoms rather than donated form one atom
to another or mobile across an entire lattice, we have covalent bonds. In covalent bonds,
electrons are usually shared in pairs. Two electrons (and sometimes four or six) are located
between two nuclei and sharing leads to an attraction between the nuclei. The long chains in
all polymers are formed by covalent bonds in which electrons are shared between adjacent

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carbon atoms. Smaller, more familiar molecules such as water, carbon dioxide, and propane
are simpler examples.

Covalent bonds are formed when two nonmetals combine, or when a metalloid bonds
to a nonmetal. A molecule is a discrete group of atoms that share electrons. For example,
when two hydrogen atoms bond they form the molecule H2, and two electrons are shared.

Sample Problem 6.2.1

PROBLEM: Predict whether the bonds in the following compounds are ionic or
covalent:
(a) NaI (sodium iodide);
(b) H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide).

ANALYSIS: The position of the elements in the periodic table determines the type of
bonds they form. When a metal and nonmetal combine, the bond is ionic.
When two nonmetals combine, or a metalloid bonds to a nonmetal, the
bond is covalent.

SOLUTION (a.) Since Na is a metal on the left side and I is a nonmetal on the right side
: of the periodic table, the bonds in NaI are ionic.
(b.) Since H2O2 contains only the nonmetals hydrogen and oxygen, the
bonds must be covalent.

Reflection

Guide Questions:

1. In general, how are electrons involved in Chemical Bonding?

2. What is the difference between ionic bond and covalent bond?

Suggested Readings

Smith, Janice G. (2010). General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry. The McGraw Hill
Companies, Inc. USA.

References/Additional Resources:

Brown, Larry, ET. Al. (2013). Chemistry for Engineering. – 2nd ed. Cengage Learning Asia.

Silberberg, Martin S. (2007). Principles of general chemistry I Martin S. Silberberg. - 1st ed.
McGraw Hill Companies. USA.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/295076524

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Exercises

NAME:_____________________________ SECTION/COURSE:__________________
EXERCISES
Introduction to Bonding

I. Predict whether the bonds in the following species are ionic or covalent.
1. CO
2. CaF2
3. MgO
4. Cl2
5. HF
6. C2H6
7. CO2
8. H2SO4
9. KF
10. CH5N

II. Label each of the following as a compound, element, or molecule. In some

cases, more than one term applies.
1. CO2
2. H2O
3. NaF
4. MgBr2
5. F2
6. CaO
7. C3H8
8. ClBr
9. CuO
10. CH4O

III. Vitamin C is important in the formation of collagen, a protein that holds together
the connective tissue of skin, muscle, and blood vessels. Vitamin C has the
chemical formula C6H8O6. Even if you know nothing about how the atoms in
vitamin C are arranged, what type of bonds are likely to be present in vitamin C?

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