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TUTORIAL 39

UNIT 4

Chemical Bonding And

Molecular Structure
By S.J.C
What is a molecule ?
A group of atoms existing together as one species and having characteristic properties
is called a molecule.

What is a Chemical Bond ?

The force of attraction which held the atoms together within a molecule is known as
chemical bond.

Why do atoms combine?

Atoms combine with each other in order to complete their respective octet (i.e. 8
electrons in their outermost shell) or duplet (i.e. two electrons in their outermost shell
in case of H, Li, Be) to attain a stable electronic configuration like the nearest noble
gas)
Kossel- Lewis approach to chemical bonding:
In 1916, Kossel and Lewis successfully and independently proposed a
satisfactory explanation for formation of chemical bonds. Their theory was based on
electronic theory of valency.
They studied the noble gases/ inert gases of group 18 and suggested that
a) These noble gases do not chemically combine with any other element.
b) From the study of their electronic configuration it is clear that they have 8
electrons in their outermost shell ( except He, which have only 2). Hence the name
octet (8 electrons) and duplet (2 electrons).
However, they came to conclusion that these electronic configurations of noble
gas are the most stable.
Therefore, other elements also tend to attend this electronic configuration. As
a result, they may donate or accept electrons or may share electrons to each other to
get a stable electronic configuration.
How do atoms combine ?
Atoms combine together in order to complete their octet or duplet so as to acquire
their stable electronic configuration. This can occur by the following ways:
❖ By complete transfer of one or more electron from one atom to another.
❖ By sharing of electrons in between atoms which are contributed by each atom.
❖ By sharing of electrons in between atoms which are contributed by only one
atom.

Lewis dot structure: Representing valence electrons

G.N. Lewis introduce a simple representation to valence electron in which the outer
shell electrons are shown as dots surrounding the symbol of the element. This is called
Lewis dot structure.
 Some example of Lewis dot structure:
Hydrogen: 1s1
Neon:1s22s22p6
Beryllium: 1s22s2
Carbon: 1s22s22p2
Sodium: 1s22s22p63s1
Aluminium: 1s22s22p63s23p1
Chlorine:1s22s22p63s23p5

Oxygen: 1s22s22p4

Fluorine:1s22s22p5
 Significance of Lewis dot structure:
➢ The number dots around the symbol gives the number of electrons present in the
outermost shell.
➢ The number of electrons present in the outermost shell helps in the calculation of common
valency of the element.
These outermost shell’s electrons are called valence electrons.
Common Valency: The common valency of an element is either equal to the number
of valence electron ( number of dots in Lewis structure) if these are ≤ 4 or 8 minus the
valence electron if these >4.
For example: Li, Be, B, C have outermost electrons 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively, hence their
valences are +1, +2, +3, +4 respectively.
on the other hand N, O, F and Ne have outermost shell’s electrons 5, 6, 7 and 8,
hence their valences are N= -3 (i.e. 8-5=3)
O= -2 (i.e. 8-6=2)
F= -1 (i.e. 8-5=1)
Ne= 0 (i.e. 8-8=0)
 Ionic or Electrovalent bond:
When a bond is formed by complete transfer of one or more electrons from one
atom to another atom so as to complete their outermost orbits by acquiring 8 electrons (i.e.
octet) or 2 electrons (i.e. duplet in case of H, Li etc) to obtain a stable noble gas electronic
configuration, the bond is known as ionic bond or electrovalent bond.
For example formation of NaF.
➢ Where outermost electron of Na is 1, its nearest noble gas Ne
has outermost electron 8. Check the video for details
➢ Again, outermost electron of F is 7, its nearest noble gas Ne
has outermost electron 8.
➢ Hence to acquire Ne electronic configuration, Na have to
release 1 electron and f have to gain 1 electron.
➢ When the two atom come closer to each other, Na donate 1
electron to F and become a cation. F accept that electron and
become an anion.
➢ Now the two ions held together by electrostatic attractive
forces, which is ionic bond.
Some other examples
Covalent Bond: The Lewis-Langmuir Concept
Langmuir, in 1919 improved the Lewis concept by suggesting that when both
the atoms are short of electrons, both of them contribute electrons or share electrons
in order to complete their octet or duplet.
The bond formed between two atoms by mutual sharing of electrons between
them are called covalent bond. The number of electron shared or contributed by each
atom is known as covalency.
For example, Hydrogen gas molecule.
➢ It is formed by combination of two hydrogen atoms.
➢ Both the Hydrogen atom have only one electron each.
Hence, to acquire the stable electronic configuration of Check the video for details
nearest noble gas helium, both require one electron each.
➢ When the atoms come closer to each other, they shared
their electron so as to complete duplet.
Some other examples

Check the video

for details
How to draw a
formation of covalent
bond