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19/08/2013

Covalent Bonding
N Goalby
chemrevise.org

KEY

Covalent Bonding
A covalent bond involves a shared
pair of electrons.
Covalent substances are formed when 2 or more nonmetal atoms link up and form a molecule.
The electron configuration of each atom usually
corresponds to that of a noble gas.
The atoms' nuclei are attracted towards the shared pair
of electrons

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Electron density map

for hydrogen molecule

High concentration
of negative charge
between H nuclei.
This is strongly
attracted by both
nuclei so attractive
interactions exceed
repulsive ones

In a covalent compound there is

significant electron density
between the atoms

Ammonia
xx
H

x
H

xx
H

x
H

xx
N

NH3

KEY

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Methane
CH4

Water

x x
x Ox
H

KEY

Oxygen
O

O2

O2

KEY

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Carbon Dioxide

CO2

x
x

xO

O
KEY

Normal bonding patterns

Carbon (4 bonds)
Nitrogen (3 bonds)
(Phosphorus)

Oxygen (2 bonds)
(Sulphur)

Halogen (1 bond)
(F, Cl, Br, I)

Hydrogen (1 bond)

Single bond 2 electrons shared

Double bond 4 electrons shared
Triple bond 6 electrons shared

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Comparing Properties of Ionic and Simple

Covalent bonding
Property

Simple Covalent

Ionic

boiling and
melting points

low- because of weak

forces between
molecules

high- because of giant

lattice of ions with
strong forces
between ions.

Solubility in water

generally low

generally good

conductivity when
solid

poor: no ions to conduct

poor: ions cant move

conductivity when
molten

poor: no ions

good: ions can move

general
description

mostly gases and liquids

crystalline solids

Bonding and Non-bonding electrons

These are called
lone pairs of
electrons or nonbonding pairs

xx
H

x
H

These are called

bonding pairs of
electrons

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Dative Covalent Bonding

Co-ordinate bonding is dative covalency. A Dative covalent
bond forms when both the electrons in the covalent bond
come from only one of the bonding atoms.

+ H+

The donor species must have an available pair of

electrons in its outer shell i.e. it will have a lone pair
of electrons.
KEY

Oxonium ion H3O+

One of the lone pairs on the
oxygen is used to share with
the hydrogen ion which needs
two electrons to fill its outer
shell.
The positive charge is now
distributed all over the ion
and all the O-H bonds are
equivalent.

+ H+

Lone pair

The dative bond is shown as an arrow

rather than a single line. The arrow
points away from the atom which
donates the pair of electrons.

+
O
H

H
H

KEY

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Ammonium ion NH4+

xx
H

H
H

xx

H+
H

x
H

The lone pair of the N is used to share with the

hydrogen ion which needs two electrons to fill its outer shell.
The ion has a +1 charge which is distributed all over the ion.
All the N-H bonds are equivalent.

KEY

Carbon monoxide CO

x
x

How can C and O bond

to make CO and both
atoms have 8 electron in
outer shell?

Dative covalent bond

x
x

xx O

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Nitric acid HNO3

Dative covalent
bond

O x

xx
N

xO

Boron trichloride-ammonia NH3BCl3

A Classic Example of Dative Covalent Bonding

xx
H

x
H

Cl

Cl

Cl

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Aluminium trichloride AlCl3

Dative covalent
bond between
Al and Cl

Cl

Al x Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl x Al

Cl x Al

Cl

Cl

Cl

Al x Cl

x
Cl

Cl
Cl

Cl

Cl
Al

A dimer is formed

Al

Cl

Cl

Cl

Beryllium chloride BeCl2

Cl

Be

Cl

Cl
Be
Cl

BeCl2, on its own, is a linear

molecule. Be does not have a
full outer shell of electrons.

Cl

Cl
Be

Cl

Cl
Be

Cl

Cl
Be

Cl

Cl

To achieve a full outer shell dative covalent bonds are formed.

A lone pair of electrons from Cl is shared with a Be atom from
another molecule. A chained polymer is formed.