Chemical Bonds Notes

• Atoms combine to form compounds by

holding pairs of electrons between
them.
• *(Draw the picture below)
• The paired electrons are known as a
chemical bond. H
H C H
H
 Chemical Bond Classification
• Chemical bonds are classified by the way
the electrons are held between the
atoms that are bonding to each other.
 Chemical Bond Classification

• Electrons can be held in a bond by

one of two ways:
– Electrons are equally shared by both
atoms. (Covalent)
– Electrons are “exchanged” from one
atom to another forming ions. (Ionic)
 Properties of Covalent Bonds

• Covalent bonds occur between two

non-metal atoms.
• In covalent bonds electrons are shared
by the atoms involved in the bond.
 Examples of Covalent Bonds

• Examples of compounds formed with

covalent bonds include:
– Hydrogen gas (H2)
– Ammonia (NH3)
– Large biological molecules such as
glucose (C6H12O6).
 Properties of Ionic Bonds
• Ionic bonds occur between a metal
atom and a non-metal atom.
• In ionic bonds electrons are exchanged or
transferred from the metal atom to the
non-metal atom.
• After the transfer of electrons, both atoms
become oppositely charged, keeping both
atoms together (bonded).
 Examples of Ionic Bonds
• Examples of compounds formed with
ionic bonds include:
– Sodium chloride (NaCl)
– Strontium sulfide (SrS)
 Next steps…if you’ve
mastered bonding
All elements have a certain ELECTRONEGATIVITY
This describes tendency of an atom to attract
electrons towards itself. (aka-it’s hunger for
electrons)
High Electronegativity = High attraction/hunger
for electrons.
Low Electronegativity = Low attraction/hunger
for electrons.
Electronegativity differences
and bonding
• If atom A is very electronegative (electron hungry) and
atom B is not, the electrons will move toward atom A and
this will result in an IONIC BOND where the electrons are
transferred.
• If atom A’s electronegativity is only a little greater than
atom B, they will share the electrons unevenly (POLAR
COVALENT BOND) (electrons will be closer to atom A and
one end of the group is more negative than the other.)
• If atom A and atom B have the same or very similar
electronegativities the electrons are evenly shared and it
makes a NONPOLAR COVALENT BOND.
ELECTRONEGATIVITY
DIFFERENCES
Electronegativity Type of Bond Electrons
Difference

0-.5 Non Polar Electrons

Covalent equally shared

Greater than .5- Polar Covalent Uneven sharing

1.7 of electrons

Greater than 1.7 Ionic Electrons are

Transferred
Some periodic tables will also list
the electronegativity.
 Ionic Bond or Covalent Bond
1. NaCl • Ionic
2. FeCl3 • Ionic
3. SO3 • Covalent
4. H2O • Covalent
5. MgO • Ionic

How do you know? Look at the atoms and

determine whether there are metal atoms present
or not. (Metal & Nonmetal=Ionic!)
 Practice!! Get your
whiteboards
Ionic Bonding Covalent Bonding
• Potassium and Fluorine • Hydrogen and Hydrogen
• Magnesium and Iodine • Hydrogen and Oxygen
• Sodium and Oxygen • Chlorine and Chlorine
• Sodium and Chlorine • Carbon and Hydrogen
• Calcium and Chlorine • Oxygen and Oxygen
• Aluminum and Chlorine • Carbon and Oxygen