-There are two types of chemical bonds ; ionic bond and covalent bond

IONIC BOND
Ionic bond is formed by the transfer of electrons between a metal atom and a
non-metal atom.

Formation of ions
~Metal atoms donates valence electron to form a positively-charged ion (cation)
 Sodium atom, Na donates an electron to achieve a
stable electron arrangement.
After donating its valence electron, sodium ion,Na
achieves a stable octet electron arrangement.
Sodium ion, Na has 11 protons and 10 electrons,
2.8.1 2.8 thus the charge for a sodium ion, Na is +1.
Sodium atom, Sodium ion,
Na Na

Half-equation for the formation of sodium ion, Na :

Na Na + e
~Non-metal atom receives electron from a metal atom to form a negatively-charged ion
(anion).

Fluorine atom, F aceepts an electron to

achieve a stable electron arrangement.
After receiving one valence electron,
flouride ion, F - has 9 protons and 10
-
electrons, so the charge of flouride ion, F
2.7 2.8
Flourine atom, Flouride ion, is -1.
F F
 Formation of Ionic Bond
~ An ionic compound is formed when ions of opposite charges attract one another
to form an ionic bond.
Formation of sodium chloride, NaCl
1.Sodium is a very reactive metal and chlorine is very poisonous before attaining a stable
electron arrangement.
2. Sodium and chlorine can attain the stable electron arrangement through the formation of
ionic bonds in the ionic compound sodium chloride, NaCl. Sodium chloride is also known as
common salt which is added into food for flavouring and safe to consume.
 Electron arrangement
The electron +
of chlorine atom is Sodium ion, Na and
arrangement of sodium
2.8.7. chloride ion, Cl - are
atom is 2.8.1.
Chlorine atom receives attracted by strong
Sodium atom donates
one electron from electrostatic forces to
one valence electron.
+ - sodium atom. form an ionic bond.
Na--> Na + e
+ Cl+ e- --> Cl- An ionic compound
Sodium ion, Na is
A chloride ion, Cl- is sodium chloride, NaCl
formed.
+ formed. is formed.
Sodium ion, Na
Chloride ion, Cl-
achieves the octet
achieves the octet
electron arrangement.
electron arrangement.
COVALENT BOND
Non-metal atoms from Group 14 to 17 and hydrogen atom are
electronegative. Hence, these atoms are not likely to donate their valence
electrons.
Non-metal atoms can attain stable electron arrangement through sharing of
electrons.
A covalent bond is formed when two or more atoms of the same or different
elements share their valence electrons to achieve the stable electron
arrangement.
The new compound formed through sharing of electrons is known as a
molecule.
Formation of single covalent bond in a molecule
Formation of hydrogen molecule, H2

Electron arrangement Two hydrogen atoms

Two hydrogen atoms,
of hydrogen atom is share one pair of
H each contributes
one. electrons to form a
one electron for
Hydrogen atom needs single covalent bond.
sharing.
one electron to achieve A hydrogen molecule,
a stable duplet H2 (covalent
electron arrangement. compound) is formed.
Lewis structure:
The pair of
electrons shared
is also known as
a covalent bond.

The valence electron is represented with ' ' or ' x '

The shared pair electrons can be represented by " "
 Formation of double covalent bond in a molecule
Formation of carbon dioxide molecule, CO2
LEWIS
STRUCTURE
Electron arrangement of carbon atom is 2.4. Carbon atom needs four electrons to
achieve a stable octet electron arrangement.
Electron arrangement of oxygen atom is 2.6. Oxygen atom needs two electrons to achieve a
stable octet electron arrangement.
One carbon atom, C contributes four electrons for sharing and two oxygen atoms, O each
contribute two electrons for sharing.
One carbon atom, C and two oxygen atoms, O share four pairs of electrons to form double
covalent bonds.
Both carbon and oxygen atoms in carbon dioxide molecule, CO2 achieve the stable octet
electron arrangements.
A carbon dioxide molecule, CO2 is formed.
 Formation of triple covalent bond in a molecule
Formation of nitrogen molecule, N2

Electron arrangement of nitrogen atom is 2.5. Nitrogen atom needs three

electrons to achieve a stable octet electron arrangement.
Two nitrogen atoms, N each contributes 3 electrons for sharing.
Two nitrogen atoms, N shared three pair of electrons to form triple covalent
bonds.
Both nitrogen atoms in nitrogen molecule, N achieve a stable octet electron
arrangement.
A nitrogen molecule, N is formed.
 Comparison between ionic bond and covalent bond
IONIC BOND COVALENT BOND
SIMILARITIES
1. Involve valence electrons only.
2. Atoms achieve stable duplet or octet electron arrangement
DIFFERENCES
1. Ionic bond is formed when metal atoms combine
with non-metals atoms 1.Covalent bond is formed when non-metal atoms combine
2. Ionic bond involves transfer of electrons from with non-metal atoms.
metal atoms to non-metal atom. 2. Covalent bond involves the sharing of electrons between
non-metal atoms.
3. Metal atom loses electrons to form positively
3. Each non-metal atom contributes the same number of
charged ions while non-metal atoms gain
electrons to each other for sharing and forming a molecule.
electrons to form negatively charged ions.
4. Two atoms share one, two or three pairs of electrons to
4. Formation of positive ions and negative ions
enable each atom to achievea stable electron arrangement
enable the ions to achieve stable electron
like inert gases.
arrangements like inert gases. 5. Atoms in a molecule are bonded together by a covalent
5. The oppositely charged ions are held together by bonds while molecules are attracted by weak Van der Waals
strong electrostatic forces, this is known as ionic forces. (intermolecular forces)
bond.