Covalent Bonding

Question 1

What happens with electrons in a Covalent Bond?

Answer 1

Electrons are shared between two atoms:

• Both atoms involved have similar electronegativity, so electrons are in the middle
• Relatively equal sharing

Question 2

How do electrons in covalent bond behave when atoms are close?

Answer 2

Instead of scattering, electrons group between bound electrons

Question 3

What causes atoms in a covalent bond to pull together?

Answer 3

Both atoms’ attempts in attracting the same electrons

Question 4

What is the relationship between potential energy and stability within covalent bonds?

Answer 4

• Potential Energy: Decreases as atoms move closer together, but spikes when too close (because of protons repelling each-other)
• Stability: Peaks at point of lowest potential energy

Question 5

How many types of bonds can atoms in covalent bonds have?

Answer 5

Covalently-bonded atoms can have 3 types of bonds

• Single bond (2 electrons)
• Double bond (4 electrons)
• Triple bond (6 electrons)

(Single bonds are weakest–Triple bonds are strongest)

Question 6

What is the NAS method?

Answer 6

Method of determining how many bonds will exist between electrons in a covalent bond

• N: # of electrons needed (8 or 2)
• A: # of electrons available
• S: # of elctrons shared (N - A / 2)