Ch 6 Section 1 Flashcards
A chemical bond is a mutual electrical attraction between the
Nuclei of valence electrons of different atoms that binds the atoms together
Most atoms are at relatively high
Potential energy
Nature favors arrangements in which potential energy is
Minimized
Most atoms are less stable existing by
Themselves than when they are combined
By bonding with each other atoms decrease in
Potential energy creating more stable arrangements of matter
When atoms bind their valence electrons are
Redistributed in ways that make the atoms more stable
The way electrons are redistributed determined the
Type of bonding
Main group metals tend to lose electrons to
Form positive ions
Nonmetals tend to gain electrons to form
Negative ions
Ionic bonding: chemical bonding that results from the
Electrical attraction between cations and anions
In purely ionic bonding atoms completely
Give up electrons to other atoms
Atoms joined by covalent bonding
Share electrons
Covalent bonding results from the
Sharing of electron pairs between two atoms
In a purely covalent bond the shared electrons are
Owned equally by the two bonded atoms
The degree to which bonding between atoms of two elements is ionic or covalent can be estimated by calculating the
Difference in the elements’ electronegativities
