CHEMICAL BONDING NOTES

Compiled by Ishmael

ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION

Shows how electrons are arranged in an atom. Electrons are

arranged in orbitals or electronic shells. The first shell contains
a maximum of 2 electrons, and all the shells that follow hold a
maximum of 8.

Valency; the total number of electrons used for bonding/ the number of outer electrons that take part
in a chemical bond.

IONS AND IONIC BONDING

Definition; Strong electrostatic force of attraction between positive cations and negative anions.
•Chemical bond formed by transfer of 𝑒̅s from one atom to another
• Metals lose 𝑒̅s to form cations, non-metals gain 𝑒̅s to form anions
• Positive cations & negative anions attract to each other
Anions; negatively charged ions
Cations; positively charged ions

{activity} Try examples of Sodium and Oxygen; Aluminum and Oxygen; Magnesium and Chlorine and
Potassium and Nitrogen.
 CHEMICAL BONDING NOTES
Compiled by Ishmael

NB The charge on an ion coincides with the group number

MOLECULES AND COVALENT BONDS

Definition; the sharing of electrons between two or more nonmetallic atoms.

• When atoms share 𝑒̅s to obtain a noble gas electron structure
• Covalent bonding takes place between non-metals only

{activity} Try examples of Ammonia, Methane, Nitrogen, Hydrogen and Oxygen, Carbon dioxide.
 CHEMICAL BONDING NOTES
Compiled by Ishmael

MACROMOLECULES
Allotropes; different forms in which an element can exist. For example, graphite, charcoal and
diamond are allotropes of carbon.

DIAMOND
Is an allotrope of carbon. Each carbon is held by strong covalent bonds to four other carbon atoms
making a tetrahedral shape.

PROPERTIES
• It is very hard, because each atom is held in place by four strong covalent bonds. In fact it is the
hardest substance on Earth.
• For the same reason it has a very high melting point, 35508C.
• It can’t conduct electricity because there are no ions or free electrons to carry the charge

GRAPHITE
In graphite, each carbon atom forms covalent bonds to three others. This gives rings of six atoms. The
rings form flat sheets that lie on top of each other, held together by weak forces. Diamond is the hardest
solid on Earth. But graphite is one of the softest!

PROPERTIES
• Unlike diamond, it is soft and slippery. That is because the sheets can slide over each other
easily.
• Unlike diamond, it is a good conductor of electricity. That is because each carbon atom has four
outer electrons, but forms only three bonds. So, the fourth electron is free to move through the
graphite, carrying charge.
 CHEMICAL BONDING NOTES
Compiled by Ishmael

SILICA OR SILICON DIOXIDE

• Makes up sand
• Each Si is bonded to 4 oxygen atoms, and each oxygen is bonded to 2 silicon atoms
• It has a high m.p. and is hard, like diamond

METALLIC BONDING
Definition; the electrostatic force of attraction between positively charged ions and a sea of
delocalized electrons.
It is a lattice of positive ions in a sea of delocalized electrons.
The copper ions are held together by their attraction to
the free electrons between them. The strong forces of
attraction are called metallic bonds
 CHEMICAL BONDING NOTES
Compiled by Ishmael

PROPERTIES
They are sonorous….. they make sound when struck
They are malleable…..s they can be bent and pressed into shape (its layers can slide over each other)
Are ductile…….. they can be drawn out into wires. (Its layers can slide over each other)
Shiny… they reflect light
Good conductors of heat (they have a sea of delocalized electrons that act as charge carrier)
Good conductors of electricity….. they have a sea of delocalized electrons that act as charge carriers
High boiling and melting points….. the ions are held with very strong electrostatic forces to electrons.