Covalent Bonding

Question 1

What type of elements are covalent bonds formed between?

Answer 1

Non-metals

Question 2

What is covalent bonding?

Answer 2

The sharing of electrons between the 2 outer shells of 2 non-metals to gain a full outer shell

Question 3

What holds the atoms together in a molecule?

Answer 3

Electrostatic attraction between the nuclei and the shared electron pairs

Question 4

What is the problem with a dot and cross diagram of Methane?

Answer 4

The modern structure shows 2 unpaired electrons (1s2, 2s2, 2px1, 2py1) but 4 is shown in a dot and cross diagram

Question 5

If the dot and cross diagram of methane is incorrect, how does methane fill the empty orbitals?

Answer 5

By promoting an electron

Question 7

What problem arises after electron promotion in covalent bonding? Use CH4 as an example.

Answer 7

In CH4 all the carbon hydrogen bonds are identical, but the elctrons are actually in 2 types of orbitals (2s, 2p). You won’t get 4 identical bonds without starting with 4 identical orbitals.