COVALENT BONDING

Chemical bond formed by sharing of electrons (from the valence

shell) between two atoms, so that each atom in the resulting
molecule gets the stable electronic configuration of the nearest
noble gas.
A covalent bond is formed only when both reacting atoms need
electrons to achieve stable electronic configuration. ie, Non-metal
atoms form covalent bonds
When two non-metal atoms come close enough, their shells
overlap and they share electrons. The strong force of attraction
developed between the atoms when they share electrons is called
covalent bond.
Three types of covalent bond Single , Double , Triple based on
the number of electrons shared by each non-metal atom pair.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IONIC AND COVALENT COMPOUNDS
PROPERTY IONIC COMPOUNDS
Formed between Metals and Non-metals
Transferred from an atom
Electrons are Shared between the atoms
to the other
Not volatile (very high
melting and boiling
Volatility (How points) as the crystal
readily a lattice is very strong and a
substance melts lot of energy is needed to
or boils) break the strong
electrostatic forces of
attraction
COVALENT COMPOUNDS
Non-metals
Volatile (Low melting and
boiling points) as the
molecules do not form a
lattice like ionic, but rather
associate each other with
other weaker forces of
attraction which are easier
to break
 Crystalline Solids at room Mostly Liquids or gases at
State
temperature room temperature

Bonding Stronger Weaker than ionic

Conduct when molten or

Electrical dissolved (so that ions are Do not conduct, since the
conductivity free to move); Do not molecules are not charged
conduct in the solid state

Most are soluble in Mostly soluble in organic

Solubility water; Insoluble in solvents; Insoluble in
organic solvents water usually

MACROMOLECULES
Substances built up of a giant network of covalently bonded
atoms
They arent volatile and have very high melting and boiling points
(unlike usual covalent compounds)
They are very hard
They are insoluble in most solvents
Examples: Diamond, Quartz and Graphite(macromolecules of carbon),
silicon dioxide (silica)
DIAMOND
 Diamond is made of a lattice (regular periodic arrangement) of
carbon atoms
Each carbon atom forms covalent bonds with four other carbon
atoms tetrahedrally Thus results in a three dimensional
structure
Millions of carbon atoms are thus bonded together in a giant
covalent structure
All covalent bonds between carbon atoms have same length and
strength This strong and uniform bonding makes diamond very
hard (thus can be used in cutting tools), non-volatile(very high
melting point), non-conducting(theres no free electrons to carry
charge) and resistant to chemical attacks
GRAPHITE

Graphite has a layer structure

In each layer, each carbon atom is bonded to three other carbon
atoms by strong covalent bond
 The layers are held to each other by Van der Waals forces. This
force is weak and allows the layers to slide over one another ----
This makes graphite soft, flaky and slippery (hence can be used as
a lubricant).
The unbounded electrons in each carbon atom are free to move
through the graphite and carry charge. So graphite is a good
conductor of electricity. (Each carbon atom has 4 outer electrons,
but are bound to only 3 other carbon atoms in graphite, making
one electron unbound and free)
Graphite has high sublimation point due to the covalent bonds in
each layer.
SILICON DIOXIDE

The structure of silicon dioxide is similar to diamond except that

the silicon atoms are linked via oxygen atoms
Each silicon atom is bonded to four oxygen atoms and four silicon
atoms(through the oxygen) to form a tetrahedral structure like
diamond
Thus the properties are very similar to diamond
 They are very hard, non-volatile (very high melting point) and are
chemically inert (unreactive)

METALLIC BOND
Bond between atoms of metals found in metals and alloys
Metals have few electrons in the valence shell --- tendency to lose
valence electrons
When metal atoms bond together, each tend to lose electrons
and become positively charged and none accepts electrons. These
delocalized electrons (negatively charged) helps in bonding the
positively charged metal atoms together to form the metallic
bond.
Metal structure involves positive metal ions packed together in a
sea of delocalized free electrons that acts as a strong glue to hold
the whole structure together (the metallic bond)
Thus a metal is a lattice of positive metal 'ions' in a 'sea' of
delocalised electrons
Metallic bonding refers to the interaction between the delocalised
electrons and the metal nuclei.

The physical properties of metals are the result of the

delocalisation of the electrons involved in metallic bonding.
 The physical properties of solid metals are:
conduct heat
conduct electricity
generally high melting points and high boiling points
strong
malleable (can be hammered or pressed out of shape without
breaking)
ductile (able to be drawn into a wire)
metallic lustre
opaque
Solid and liquid metals conduct heat and electricity. The delocalized
electrons are free to move in the solid lattice. These mobile
electrons can act as charge carriers in the conduction of electricity or
as energy conductors in the conduction of heat.
In general, metals have high melting and boiling points because of
the strength of the metallic bond. The strength of the metallic bond
depends on the:
number of electrons in the delocalized 'sea' of electrons. (More
delocalized electrons results in a stronger bond and a higher melting
point.)
packing arrangement of the metal atoms. (The more closely packed
the atoms are the stronger the bond is and the higher the melting
point.)
Metals are malleable and ductile. The delocalized electrons in the
'sea' of electrons in the metallic bond, enable the metal atoms to roll
over each other when a stress is applied.