coordinate covalent bonding

Question 1

Covalent bonding

Answer 1

Covalent bonding is a shared electron pair between atoms. One atom donates electron (s) to another atom. In doing so both atoms have saturated electron orbitals with the electron configuration of a Nobel gas (e.g. fluorine, chlorine etc)

Question 2

Co-ordinate covalent bonding

Answer 2

Co-ordinate covalent bonding is where an electron pair of (non- bonding) electrons is donated from one atom and accepted by another atom. The donor atoms are electron rich e.g. nitrogen and oxygen and the acceptor atoms are divalent metal ions

Question 3

Hydrated aluminium ions

Answer 3

Aluminium has an electron structure of 1s22s22p63s23px1
When aluminium forms an ion it loses 3 electrons from the outer electron orbitals to give an electron structure of 1s22s22p6
The level 3 orbitals are empty. Aluminium reorganises the level 3 orbitals (3s,3 x 3p and 2 x 3d) to give 6 orbitals of the same energy value and can form coordinate bonding with the electron rich oxygen atom in water molecules.
No more than six water molecules can be accommodated around the aluminium atom.