Covalent bonding

Question 1

What is covalent bonding?

Answer 1

When two non-metals react and share pairs of electrons to form molecules and maintain a stable noble gas electronic structure.

Question 2

Sometimes in covalent bonding each atom has the same number of atoms to share but this is not always the case. Explain.

Answer 2

Sometimes the atoms of one element will need several electrons, whilst those of the other element only need one more electron to get a stable electronic structure. In this case more atoms become involved in forming the molecule, such as water, H2O, and methane, CH4.

Question 3

Many substances containing covalent bonds consist of…

Answer 3

Simple molecules but some have giant covalent structures.

Question 4

What is a common example of substance with a giant covalent structure?

Answer 4

Diamond

Question 5

A covalent bond consist of a pair of electrons, which occupy a space mainly between the nuclei of the two atoms bonded together. How does this pair of electrons bond the atoms to each other?

Answer 5

The electron of one atom is attracted to the nucleus of the the other and vice versa.