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Covalent Bonding v1.0
Covalent Bonding v1.0
incomplete
Cl outer shells Cl
Cl Cl
covalent bond
Only outer shells of electrons are involved in bonding, so the
inner shells do not always have to be included in diagrams.
Two common ways to represent a covalent bond are:
simplified Cl–Cl
dot and solid
Cl Cl
cross
diagram
line Cl – Cl
6 of 45 © Boardworks Ltd 2007
Comparing covalent and ionic bonding
H H H H
H Cl H Cl
ratio of
atoms 1 3
electrons H N H
needed 3 1
ratio of
atoms 1 3
H
NH3 or H N H
H
15 of 45 © Boardworks Ltd 2007
Covalent bonding in methane
How do carbon and hydrogen atoms form covalent bonds
in a molecule of methane?
element C H H
electron
configuration (2.4) (1)
electrons
needed 4 1 C
H H
ratio of
atoms 1 4
H
H
CH4 or H C H
H
16 of 45 © Boardworks Ltd 2007
Covalent bonding in carbon dioxide
How do carbon and oxygen atoms form covalent bonds in
a molecule of carbon dioxide?
element C O
electron
configuration (2.4) (2.6)
O C O
electrons
needed 4 2
ratio of
atoms 1 2
double bonds
CO2 or O C O
A double bond is when two pairs of electrons are shared.
weak bonds
strong bonds
between
within
molecules
molecules
Si
O
O
C C
The atoms in this allotrope of carbon form a sphere, like the
shape of a football. The molecules can be called ‘bucky balls’.
They are large but are not classified as giant structures.
31 of 45 © Boardworks Ltd 2007
Complete the sentences
strong metallic
strong ionic
bonds holds
bonds holds
ions together
ions together