Name: _____________________ Unit 3:4

Period: _____________________ Covalent Compounds

When two nonmetals bond neither one is willing to lose their electrons. Why? Because
they are too close to having a full octet of valence electrons. So they share.

Use x’s or dots for different atoms Remember the dots are Valence Electrons

If you use only dots you won’t be able

Chlorine has 7 valence electrons
to see where the electrons came from.
Chlorine needs 1 more to be full.
Cl And the dots
can be moved
Hard to read Easy to read to wherever
Phosphorus has 5 valence electrons you need
Phosphorus needs 3 more to be full.
N them.
Cl Cl Cl Cl

You must fulfill two criteria when making covalent bonds:

Covalent Bonding 1) the individual atoms must have the proper number of valence electrons;
2) when bonded each atom must have 8 electrons through sharing.
Oxygen does not exist
as an individual atom. Molecular Oxygen: O2 Oxygen dichloride: OCl2
Oxygen is a 6 v.e.
diatomic molecule: 8 shared
O O it is found as a O O 7 v.e.
molecule of 2 atoms. O Cl
6 6 8 shared
8 8
Each oxygen has only Together each oxygen Cl O Cl
6 valence electrons has 8 valence electrons 7 v.e. Short
and needs 2 more. thru sharing. 8 shared Cl hand

Though Lewis Dot Diagrams are a powerful tool to determine how elements
Short Hand bond, they take a long time to draw. Chemists use lines to show bonds.

Single bond—each atom Double bond—each atom Triple bond—each atom

A Covalent shares 1 electron (2 total) shares 2 electrons (4 total) shares 3 electrons (6 total)
Bond means means means

F F O O N N
Each line means A single covalent bond. A double covalent bond. A triple covalent bond.
2 electrons Each Fluorine has 7 v.e. Each Oxygen has 6 v.e. Each Nitrogen has 5 v.e.
are shared plus 1 for the 1 bond = 8! plus 2 for the 2 bonds = 8! plus 3 for the 3 bonds = 8!

Electrolytes are compounds that allow electricity to flow when they are dissolved
Electrolytes
in water. Ionic compounds are good electrolytes. Covalent compounds are not.

Ionic Compounds are Electrolytes Covalent Compounds are NOT Electrolytes

Ionic compounds Dissolved Covalent compounds Dissolved

+

dissolve into ions. ionic do not dissolve into covalent

Ions conduct compound ions and do not compound
electricity. (like salt) conduct electricity. (like sugar)

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Name: _____________________ Unit 3:4
Period: _____________________

1. X’s A. A bond of negatively and positively 1. Electrolyte A. When 4 valence electrons are shared.
charged atoms.
2. Covalent B. Used instead of dots to simplify the
B. Used instead of dots to show a 2. Double Bond writing on bonds. Means 2 electrons.
3. Ionic different atom’s valence electrons.
C. Shows 6 valence electrons being
3. Triple Bond
C. A bond where electrons are shared. shared.
4. Diatomic
Molecule D. Number of electrons each atom in a 4. Line ( ) D. Something dissolved in water that
covalent compound has after sharing. allows electricity to flow.
5. 8 Valence 5. Single Bond
E. A molecule of two atoms of the same E. Occurs when 2 valence electrons are
Electrons element. shared in a covalent compound.

Decide what’s wrong with these covalent compounds and then draw them correctly..
Wrong Right Wrong Right Wrong Right

N O F
C O O O
O
F

Using the short hand notation, count how many electrons the atoms have and if they have a full number of valence electrons.

P # of electrons: 8 Full? Yes . O # of electrons: _______Full? _______

C # of electrons: ______ Full? _______ N # of electrons: _______Full? _______

Cl # of electrons: ______ Full? _______ Si # of electrons: _______Full? _______

I # of electrons: ______ Full? _______ S # of electrons: _______Full? _______

Draw the Lewis Dot Diagram for molecular Chlorine (Cl2). Draw the Lewis Dot Diagram for molecular Oxygen (O2).

Short hand Short hand

Using Lewis Dot Diagrams to predict how Using Lewis Dot Diagrams to predict how
Oxygen and Fluorine will combine. Nitrogen and Bromine will combine.
Short hand Short hand

Are these Electrolytes? Yes or No? In this setup, is the

dissolved compound
NaCl _________ Li2S _________ ionic or covalent?
CO2 _________ Al2O3 _________
+

MgCl2 _________ SeO _________ How do you know?

NBr3 _________ FeO _________

BeO _________ Li(NO3) _________

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