Learning Objectives:

 Define chemical bonds and their importance in forming compounds.

 Identify the three main types of chemical bonds: ionic, covalent, and metallic.
 Explain the formation of each bond type using atomic structure concepts.
 Differentiate between ionic, covalent, and metallic compounds based on their
properties.

Materials:

 Student handout (provided below)

Lesson Procedure:

In your notebook, make a visual organizer considering the information in the following
text: “The wonderful world of chemical bonds”. In this visual organizer, you must include
the definition of chemical bonds, a comparison between the 3 types of chemical bonds
based on their properties like electronegativity (values), atomic structure, valence electrons,
melting point, boiling point, conductivity and solubility.

The Wonderful World of Chemical Bonds!

Everything around you, from the air you breathe to the clothes you wear, is made up of tiny
building blocks called atoms. But how do these atoms come together to form all these
different materials? The answer lies in chemical bonds!

Chemical bonds are the invisible forces that hold atoms together to form molecules and
compounds. They are like the glue that keeps things together. There are three main types of
chemical bonds, each determined by how strongly atoms attract electrons, which is
measured by electronegativity. Electronegativity values typically range from 0.7 (low) to
4.0 (high).

 Ionic Bonds: Imagine a dramatic game of tug-of-war, but with electrons! In ionic
bonds, a big difference in electronegativity comes into play. When a metal atom
(with low electronegativity, around 0.7-1.0) loses one or more electrons to a non-
metal atom (with high electronegativity, around 3.0-4.0), a dramatic difference of at
least 1.7 occurs. The electron loser becomes positively charged (called a cation),
and the electron gainer becomes negatively charged (called an anion). These
oppositely charged ions attract each other very strongly, forming a stable ionic
bond. (Think of opposite poles of magnets attracting!) Examples of ionic
compounds include table salt (NaCl) and magnesium oxide (MgO).
  Covalent Bonds: In covalent bonds, atoms "share electrons" to achieve a stable
configuration. Imagine two friends holding hands. In this case, the atoms "hold
hands" with their valence electrons (the outermost electrons) to form a strong bond.
Covalent bonds are often found between non-metal atoms with similar
electronegativity values (usually within 1.0 of each other). There are two main types
of covalent bonds:
o Nonpolar Covalent Bond: When the atoms sharing electrons have similar
electronegativity (around 0 to 0.3), they share the electrons equally. This
creates a nonpolar covalent bond, where the molecule has no uneven
charges. Water (H2O) is a good example, as hydrogen (2.1) and oxygen
(3.5) have relatively close electronegativity values.
o Polar Covalent Bond: When the atoms sharing electrons have a moderate
difference in electronegativity (around 0.3 to1.7), one atom attracts the
shared electrons more than the other due to its higher electronegativity. This
creates a polar covalent bond, where the molecule has slightly positive and
negative regions due to the uneven electron distribution. Ammonia (NH3) is
an example of a polar covalent molecule, as nitrogen (3.0) is more
electronegative than hydrogen (2.1).
 Metallic Bonds: Imagine a sea of electrons! In metallic bonds, metal atoms
(generally with low electronegativity) lose some of their valence electrons and
become positively charged ions. These positive ions are surrounded by a "sea" of
delocalized electrons (not fixed to one atom) that can move freely throughout the
metal. The attraction between the positive ions and the sea of electrons holds the
metal atoms together. This free movement of electrons is why metals are good
conductors of heat and electricity. Examples of metallic elements include copper
(Cu) and iron (Fe).

Bonding and Properties:

The type of bond in a compound, influenced by electronegativity, affects its properties,

such as:

 Melting and Boiling Point: Ionic compounds typically have high melting and
boiling points due to the strong attraction between oppositely charged ions.
Covalent compounds can have a wide range of melting and boiling points
depending on the strength of the covalent bonds. Metallic bonds generally result in
high melting and boiling points due to the strong attraction between positive ions
and the electron sea.
 Electrical Conductivity: Ionic compounds conduct electricity when dissolved in
water or melted (because the ions can move freely). Covalent compounds are
generally poor conductors. Metallic bonds allow for good electrical conductivity
due to the free movement of electrons in the "sea."
 Solubility:
By understanding the different types of chemical bonds and the role of electronegativity,
you can start to predict the properties of various materials!