Chemistry – Chapter 6Introduction to Chemical Bonding

ObjectivesDefine chemical bond.Explain why most atoms form

chemical bonds.Describe ionic and covalent

bonding.Explain why most chemical

bonding is neither purely ionic nor purely covalent.

Classify bonding type according to electronegativity differences.

Introduction to Chemical BondingAtoms seldom exist as independent particles

in nature.Chemical bond: is a mutual electrical

attraction between the nuclei and valence electrons of different atoms that binds the atoms together.

Most atoms are chemically bonded to each other because most atoms are less stable existing by themselves than when they are combined.

By bonding with each other, atoms decrease in potential energy, thereby creating more stable arrangements of matter.

Types of Chemical BondingWhen atoms bond, their valence electrons

are redistributed in ways that make the atoms more stable.

The way in which the electrons are redistributed determines the type of bonding.

Ionic Bonding: Chemical bonding that results from the electrical attraction between large numbers of cations and anions.

Covalent bonding: Results from the sharing of electron pairs between two atoms.

Electronegativity and BondingPurely ionic bonds do not occur

because the atom that gives up the electron still has some attraction for the electron.

The degree to which bonding between atoms of two elements is ionic or covalent can be estimated by calculating the difference in the elements’ electronegativities, a measure of the atom’s ability to attract electrons.

Covalent BondingBonding between atoms with an

electronegativity difference of 1.7 or less has an ionic character of 50% or less and is classified as covalent.

Bonding between two atoms of the same element is completely covalent.

Nonpolar Covalent BondNonpolar Covalent bond: A

covalent bond in which the bonding electrons are shared equally by the bonded atoms, resulting in a balanced distribution of electrical charge.

Bonds having 0 to 5% ionic character, corresponding to electronegativity differences of roughly 0 to 0.3, are generally considered nonpolar covalent.

Polar BondBonds that have an uneven

distribution of charge.Bonds have significantly different

electronegativities, the electrons are more strongly attracted by the more-electronegative atom.

Covalent bonds having 5 to 50% ionic character, corresponding to electronegativity differences of 0.3 to 1.7, are classified as polar

Polar-covalent BondPolar-covalent Bond: a covalent

bond in which the bonded atoms have an unequal attraction for the shared electrons.

CarbonThe bonding properties of carbon

are unique.Carbon can form four covalent

bonds.Carbon bonds with other carbon

atoms to form long-chain molecules of different sizes and shapes.