Covalent Bonding

Question 1

what happens when non-metals atoms bond?

Answer 1

• they share a pair of electrons to get a full outer shell (some molecules contain double or triple pairs)
• an atom will make a shared pair for each electron missing from its outer-shell

Question 2

what is covalent bonding?

Answer 2

• the electrostatic attraction between protons in two nuclei and a shared pair of electrons between them
• the shared pair of electrons effectively pull the nuclei of the atoms closer together

Question 3

is covalent bonding a strong or weak attraction?

Answer 3

very strong

Question 4

what is a small group of atoms held together by covalent bonds called?

Answer 4

a simple molecule