Covalent Bond

Part II

Covalent Bond
Formed by the sharing of 1 or more pairs of
electron.
Between two atoms of same or different elements.
Tend to achieve noble gas configuration.
The electro-negativity difference usually less than
2.0
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Lewis structures
(i) Single covalent bond
When a pair of electron is shared between 2
atoms.
Lewis Structure

Cl

Cl

Cl Cl

or

Cl Cl

An electron pair represented by a pair of dots.

It used to show
(i) bonding electrons
(ii) Lone or nonbonding electron (is not shared)

(ii) Double Covalent Bond

Two bonding pairs of electron shared between 2

atoms.

C,N, O and S can form double bonds.

Represented by 2 pairs of dots or 2 short straight
lines.
2 O

+ C

O C O or

O=C=O

(iii) Triple Covalent Bond

o3 bonding pairs shared between 2 atoms

oSuch as C & N triple bonds

oRepresented by 3 pairs of dots or 3short lines

H +

+ N

H-C

Physical Properties of Covalent Compound

(i) Low melting and boiling points
Covalent compound mostly in simple molecular
crystal in solid form.
Held together by the weak Van Der Waals force.
When heated to melting or boiling points Wan
Der Waals force are broken individual
molecules are release.
Macromolecule compounds or crystal high
melting points.
Example SiO2 due to presence of strong covalent
bonds throughout its structure a lot of energy
needed to break these bonds.

(ii) Insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar

solvent
Non polar or neutral in polar liquid (example water)
will be no attraction
Therefore, nonpolar molecules are not disperse or
dissolve in water.
(iii) Electrical insulators
When simple molecule and macro molecule melt
release neutral molecule or atom not attracted to
any electrode not able conduct electricity.

Exceptions to Octet Rule

A few electron in main group do not
satisfy octet rule.
Fall into 2 groups:
(i) Molecule with center atom having more
than 8 electrons (expended octet)
(ii)Molecule with center atom having less
than 8 electron incomplete octet)

Expended octet
More than 8 electron at central atom. Example
Cl

Cl

P
Cl

Cl

F
F

Cl

F
F

Both sulphur and phosphorus have vacant 3d orbitals

which can be used for bonding.
5 unpaired electron are formed when electron from 3s
orbital excited to vacant 3d orbital.
Then these electron paired up with unpaired electron of
chlorine to form PCl5.
Only occur in central atom located at period 3.

Incomplete Octet
Be, B, and Al as central atom have less
than 8 electrons.

Do not satisfy octet rule.

Check the following compound :

BeCl2, BH3 and AlCl3

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Dative covalent bond or coordinate covalent bonds

X

+ Y

+Y

X Y

(covalent bond)

(dative covalent bond)

By sharing of a pair of electron between 2 atoms.

But only one atom donate the electron for bonding.

The atom known as donor, must have at least 1 lone pair of
electrons.

The other atom called as acceptor, must have incomplete

octet.
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Example:
Hydroxonium ion, H3O+
:O: +
H

..

H+

Sometimes shown as arrow pointing from the donor

atom to acceptor atom.
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Step 1:

Identify central atom, central atom less electronegative

Step 2 :
Calculate the total number of valence electron of
molecule by adding up the no. of valence electron for
each atom.
polyatomic cation subtract the no of positive charge
the total.
polyatomic anion add the no of negative charge to
the total.

Step 3:
Join the central atom to the surrounded atoms by single
covalent bond.
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Step 4 :
Distribute atoms surrounding the central atoms, so that
octet rule of all surrounded atom is satisfied.
Step 5:
Distribute the remaining electrons as pairs to the central
atom.
Step 6 :
Fewer than 8 electron, suggests that a multiple bond
formation. Necessary 2 electrons fewer suggests a double
bond, 4 electrons fewer triple bond. Or double bond.
Atom that usually form multiply bonds are C, N, O and S.

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Try it out
What is the Lewis structure for SF4?
What is the Lewis structure for CCl4
(a substance once used as a dry
cleaning solvent until it was found to
be very toxic)
Draw Lewis structure that obey the
octet rule for the ions NO3-, SO3215

Molecule Geometry
Three dimensional arrangement of atoms
The geometry determine by repulsion effects
between the valence electron pairs
surrounding central atom.
Electron pair repulsion theory
Bonding pair electrons and lone pair
electrons in valence shell repel one other.
Tend to stay far away to minimize repulsion
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Valence Shell Electron Pair

Repulsion (VSEPR)
A model to predict the shape of molecule or
polyatomic ion.
Must determine the number of valence electron
pairs around the central atom (lone pair and
bonding electrons)
If the central atom has bonding pairs as well
as lone pairs of electrons surrounding it, the
compound will be distorted to different shape
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