Are you curious about covalent bonding? Did you know that atoms can form chemical bonds with other atoms? The type of bond an atom forms is determined by how many electrons it has in its outer shell.
This blog post will explore covalent bonds and provide examples of the different types. We hope this information will help you better understand these important molecules!
What Is Covalent Bonding?
Covalent bonding is a chemical bond that occurs when two atoms share electrons. In a covalent bond, the atoms share electrons to complete their outermost energy level. This type of bond is relatively strong and typically occurs between non-metallic elements.
Covalent bonding can occur between two of the same elements (e.g., oxygen atoms) or between different elements (e.g., carbon and hydrogen). The strength of the bond depends on the number of electrons that are shared.
Covalent bond characteristics
Covalent bonds are very strong, and require a considerable amount of energy to break. Because of this, covalent compounds tend to have high melting and boiling points. Additionally, covalent bonds allow atoms to form long chains or networks, which gives these compounds unique properties.
For example, the structure of a diamond is made up of a continuous network of carbon atoms, which makes it one of the most rigid materials on Earth. Likewise, the structure of graphite is made up of layers of carbon atoms that can slide over one another, making it useful as a lubricant.
Types of Covalent Bond with examples
Covalent bonds are formed when atoms share electrons to fill their outer orbital (valence shell). There are three types of covalent bonds: single, double, and triple.
Single
A single covalent bond is formed when two atoms share one electron. Examples of this type of bond include H2 (hydrogen gas), Cl2 (chlorine gas), and N2 (nitrogen gas).
Double
A double covalent bond is formed when two atoms share two electrons. This type of bond is much stronger than a single covalent bond and is found in molecules such as O2 (oxygen gas) and CO2 (carbon dioxide).
Triple
A triple covalent bond is formed when two atoms share three electrons. This type of bond is even stronger than a double covalent bond and is found in molecules such as N2H4 (hydrazine).
Covalent bonds are important in biology because they are responsible for forming DNA, RNA, and proteins.
Covalent bond vs Ionic bond
Regarding bonding, there are two main types of bonds that atoms can form: ionic and covalent. Both ionic and covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms, but they differ in terms of the strength of the bond and the type of atoms involved. Ionic bonds are typically formed between metals and non-metals, while covalent bonds are generally between non-metals.
Ionic bonds are also generally stronger than covalent bonds. This is because ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, whereas covalent bonds involve sharing of electrons between atoms. As a result, ionic bonds tend to be more difficult to break than covalent bonds.
Conclusion
That’s a quick overview of covalent bonding. Now that you know more about it, why not learn even more with our free online courses? We have modules on organic chemistry, biochemistry and other topics relevant to those working in or studying science.
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