Compare and contrast covalent, ionic, and hydrogen bonds Flashcards
What is the main mechanism by which covalent bonds hold atoms together?
Covalent bonds hold atoms together by sharing pairs of electrons between atoms.
How do ionic bonds hold atoms together?
Ionic bonds hold atoms together through the electrostatic attraction between positively charged cations and negatively charged anions.
What is the mechanism of hydrogen bonds holding molecules together?
Hydrogen bonds occur when a hydrogen atom, covalently bonded to an electronegative atom (like oxygen or nitrogen), is attracted to another electronegative atom in a nearby molecule.
Which type of bond is generally the strongest: covalent, ionic, or hydrogen?
Covalent bonds are generally the strongest because they involve the sharing of electron pairs directly between atoms.
Compare the strength of ionic bonds to covalent bonds.
Ionic bonds are generally strong but typically weaker than covalent bonds, especially in aqueous solutions where they can dissociate into ions.
Which bond is the weakest: covalent, ionic, or hydrogen?
Hydrogen bonds are the weakest compared to covalent and ionic bonds, as they involve partial charges rather than full electron sharing or transfer.
In which type of bond do atoms achieve full outer electron shells by sharing electrons?
Atoms achieve full outer electron shells by sharing electrons in covalent bonds.
What happens to electrons in the formation of ionic bonds?
In ionic bonds, electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of positively and negatively charged ions.
Why are hydrogen bonds important in biological molecules like DNA?
Hydrogen bonds are crucial in stabilizing the structures of biological molecules like DNA, where they help hold the two strands of the helix together, despite being relatively weak.
How does bond strength influence the properties of substances?
Stronger bonds (like covalent bonds) result in more stable and less reactive molecules, while weaker bonds (like hydrogen bonds) are more easily disrupted but are important in dynamic biological processes.
