CHEMICAL BOND AND ITS TYPES.

An Introduction to Chemical Bonding

The basic idea of chemical bonding is theoretical as it’s not a phenomenon
that can be readily observed. The whole phenomenon of chemical bonding
can be observed in the laboratory on a submicroscopic level.
Every object in our day-to-day life is made up of atoms and most of
these atoms don’t exist just by themselves. These atoms are constantly
working in conjunction with other atoms. While interacting with other atoms or
groups of atoms, the atoms have a tendency to fill their outermost electron
orbits. In other words, the atoms get arranged in the most steady shape or
pattern that is possible. The resultant force holding the atoms together in
groups (also called molecules) is generally referred to as Chemical Bonding.
At times, atoms can forge strong bonds and get arranged into molecules but
they can also form weak or fragile bonds with other atoms. The existence of
both, the strong bonds and the weaker bonds is important to maintain the
chemistry of our bodies and to sustain life itself.
Why do Atoms Form Chemical Bonds?
The atoms always have a tendency to achieve a state of maximum stability
possible. Most atoms gain stability when electrons fill their Valence Shells or
by confirming to the Octet rule (i.e. by having eight valence electrons). In the
absence of this desired situation, atoms will always strive to reach this ideal
arrangement by sharing or losing electrons through the formation of bonds.
Types of Chemical Bonds
 Ionic Bonds
Ionic bonds are a subset of chemical bonds that result from the transfer of
valence electrons, typically between a metal and a nonmetal.
Forming an Ion
Ionic bonds are a class of chemical bonds that result from the exchange of
one or more valence electrons from one atom, typically a metal, to another,
typically a nonmetal. This electron exchange results in an electrostatic
attraction between the two atoms called an ionic bond. An atom that loses one
or more valence electrons to become a positively charged ion is known as a
cation, while an atom that gains electrons and becomes negatively charged is
known as an anion.
This exchange of valence electrons allows ions to achieve electron
configurations that mimic those of the noble gases, satisfying the octet rule.
The octet rule states that an atom is most stable when there are eight
electrons in its valence shell. Atoms with less than eight electrons tend to
satisfy the duet rule, having two electrons in their valence shell. By satisfying
the duet rule or the octet rule, ions are more stable.
A cation is indicated by a positive superscript charge (+ something) to the
right of the atom. An anion is indicated by a negative superscript charge (-
something) to the right of the atom. For example, if a sodium atom loses one
electron, it will have one more proton than electron, giving it an overall +1
charge. The chemical symbol for the sodium ion is Na+1 or just Na+. Similarly,
if a chlorine atom gains an extra electron, it becomes the chloride ion, Cl –.
Both ions form because the ion is more stable than the atom due to the octet
rule.
Forming an Ionic Bond
Once the oppositely charged ions form, they are attracted by their positive
and negative charges and form an ionic compound. Ionic bonds are also
formed when there is a large electronegativity difference between two atoms.
This difference causes an unequal sharing of electrons such that one atom
completely loses one or more electrons and the other atom gains one or more
electrons, such as in the creation of an ionic bond between a metal atom
(sodium) and a nonmetal (fluorine).
Determining the Formula of an Ionic Compound
To determine the chemical formulas of ionic compounds, the following two
conditions must be satisfied:
o Each ion must obey the octet rule for maximum stability.
o Ions will combine in a way that the overall ionic compound will be
neutral. In other words, the charges of the ions must balance out.
Example
Magnesium and fluorine combine to form an ionic compound. What is the
formula for the compound?
Mg most commonly forms a 2+ ion. This is because Mg has two valence
electrons and it would like to get rid of those two ions to obey the octet rule.
Fluorine has seven valence electrons and as such, usually forms the F – ion
because it gains one electron to satisfy the octet rule. When Mg 2+ and F–
combine to form an ionic compound, their charges must cancel out.
Therefore, one Mg2+ needs two F–ions to balance. The 2+ of the Mg is
balanced by having two -1 charged ions. Therefore, the formula of the
compound is MgF2. The subscript two indicates that there are two fluorines
that are ionically bonded to magnesium.

 Covalent Bonds
Covalent bonding involves two atoms, typically nonmetals, sharing valence
electrons.
Forming Covalent Bonds
Covalent bonds are a class of chemical bonds where valence electrons are
shared between two atoms, typically two nonmetals. The formation of a
covalent bond allows the nonmetals to obey the octet rule and thus become
more stable. For example:
A fluorine atom has seven valence electrons. If it shares one electron with a
carbon atom (which has four valence electrons), the fluorine will have a full
octet (its seven electrons plus the one it is sharing with carbon).
Carbon will then have five valence electrons (its four and the one its sharing
with fluorine). Covalently sharing two electrons is also known as a “single
bond.” Carbon will have to form four single bonds with four different fluorine
atoms to fill its octet. The result is CF4 or carbon tetrafluoride.

Covalent bonds can be single, double, and triple bonds.

Single bonds occur when two electrons are shared and are composed of one
sigma bond between the two atoms.
Double bonds occur when four electrons are shared between the two atoms
and consist of one sigma bond and one pi bond.
Triple bonds occur when six electrons are shared between the two atoms and
consist of one sigma bond and two pi bonds
Ionic Compounds v. Molecular Compounds
Unlike an ionic bond, a covalent bond is stronger between two atoms with
similar electronegativity. For atoms with equal electronegativity, the bond
between them will be a non- polar covalent interaction. In non-polar covalent
bonds, the electrons are equally shared between the two atoms. For atoms
with differing electronegativity, the bond will be a polar covalent interaction,
where the electrons will not be shared equally.
Ionic solids are generally characterized by high melting and boiling points
along with brittle, crystalline structures. Covalent compounds, on the other
hand, have lower melting and boiling points. Unlike ionic compounds, they are
often not soluble in water and do not conduct electricity when solubilized.

 Metallic Bond
The valence electrons of pure metals are not strongly associated with
particular atoms. This is a function of their low ionization energy. Electrons in
metals are said to be delocalized (not found in one specific region, such as
between two particular atoms).
Since they are not confined to a specific area, electrons act like a flowing
“sea”, moving about the positively charged cores of the metal atoms.
 Delocalization can be used to explain conductivity, malleability, and
ductility.
 Because no one atom in a metal sample has a strong hold on its
electrons and shares them with its neighbors, we say that they are
bonded.
  In general, the greater the number of electrons per atom that
participate in metallic bonding, the stronger the metallic bond.

 A coordinate covalent bond

A coordinate bond (also called a dative covalent bond) is a covalent bond (a
shared pair of electrons) in which both electrons come from the same atom. A
covalent bond is formed by two atoms sharing a pair of electrons. The atoms
are held together because the electron pair is attracted by both of the nuclei.
In the formation of a simple covalent bond, each atom supplies one electron
to the bond - but that does not have to be the case.
Reaction between ammonia and boron trifluoride
Boron trifluoride is a compound that does not have a noble gas structure
around the boron atom .The boron only has three pairs of electrons in its
bonding level, whereas there would be room for four pairs. BF3BF3 is
described as being electron deficient. The lone pair on the nitrogen of an
ammonia molecule can be used to overcome that deficiency, and a compound
is formed involving a coordinate bond.

Using lines to represent the bonds, this could be drawn more simply as:
The second diagram shows another way that you might find coordinate bonds
drawn. The nitrogen end of the bond has become positive because the
electron pair has moved away from the nitrogen towards the boron - which
has therefore become negative.