WORKSHEET ON CHEMICAL BONDING

COVALENT BONDING
Covalent bonding involves the sharing of electron pairs between two atoms. This is most
often between non-metal atoms (but there are a number of compounds between metals and
non-metals that are covalent). A single covalent bond involves one shared pair of electrons.
In many compounds, atoms will share electrons to enable their valence shell to become like
the nearest Noble Gas. This is normally 8 electrons (the Octet Rule), apart from Hydrogen.
Draw dot and cross diagrams (outer electrons only) to show the bonding in the following
covalent molecules:-
a) Hydrogen fluoride HF
b) Chlorine Cl2
c) Oxygen O2
d) Nitrogen N2
e) Silicon tetrachloride SiCl4
f) Ammonia NH3
g) Carbon dioxide CO2
h) Hydrogen cyanide HCN
i) Ethane C2H6
j) Ethene C2H4

DATIVE (CO-ORDINATE) COVALENT BONDING

You have seen in question 3 that some molecules have atoms which are electron deficient.
Positive ions also have missing electrons. You have also seen that some molecules have
non-bonding pairs of electrons (lone pairs). These molecules can donate their lone pair of
electrons into the empty orbital of an atom or ion. An extra covalent bond can then be
formed.
2) Draw dot and cross diagrams (outer electrons only) to show the bonding in the
following covalent molecules or ions which contain dative bonds. Indicate the dative
bonds clearly on your diagrams.
a) The ammonium ion NH4+
b) The hydroxonium ion H3O+
c) The compound formed between BF3 and NH3
d) Once a dative covalent bond has been formed, is there any difference between this and an
ordinary covalent bond?
e) Does making a dative bond using the lone pair of electrons on the N atom in ammonia
break the octet rule for the N atom? Explain.