Chemical bonding
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When thinking about molecules and the arrangement of atoms their is quite a lot more to understand than just thinking that a molecule has bonds or atoms that are bonded to each other. To understand the way that atoms bond to each other we must take into account the protons, neutrons and electrons that are present within the atom.
Water the most abundant compound on this planet, covers around 70.9% of the earths surface. Without water life simply would not be possible; water is unique in its structure, it is able to exist as all three states: solid, liquid and gas. It is the only compound where its solid state is lense dense that its liquid form, this is due to the bonding that is present with in water.
Water the most abundant compound on this planet, covers around 70.9% of the earths surface. Without water life simply would not be possible; water is unique in its structure, it is able to exist as all three states: solid, liquid and gas. It is the only compound where its solid state is lense dense that its liquid form, this is due to the bonding that is present with in water.
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Bonding in chemistry
Covalent
A water molecule has the chemical symbol H20, meaning it is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The oxygen atom is in group 6 of the periodic table which means it has 6 outer electrons on its outer most shell; hydrogen has 1 electron in its outer most shell and in need of one extra electron. By the oxygen sharing two of its electrons with two hydrogens and the hydrogen’s sharing each of their spare electrons this would mean that all three atoms have a full shared outer ring of electrons. This type of bonding is known a covalent bonding (the sharing of electrons).
Dative covalent
To understand dative covalent bonding, its best to look at it as the most generous form of bonding, in this type of bonding both electrons are supplied by one atom only.
Ionic bonding
The best way to understand ionic bonding is by first to realize that the bond is the result of electrostatic attraction between two oppositely charged Ions. this type of bonding is seen normally between a metal and non-metal, the metal is the atom which donates its electron or electrons to the non-metal, due to the loss of a negative charge (via the electron) the atom becomes a positive ion (there are more protons in the atom than there is now electrons meaning there is a greater positive charged exerted by the atom, thus turning it into a positive ion). Please read section on the atom if unclear about the charges in atoms.
The metal has lost electrons becoming a positively charged ion also known as a cation. The non-metal accepting the electrons is now more negatively charged thus becoming a negatively charged ion known as an anion. It is these opposite charges created by the transfer of electrons that an electrostatic force is created between the two, thus becoming an ionic bond.
The transfer of electrons is done so that the metal and non-metal would have a full outer shell of electrons.
Covalent
A water molecule has the chemical symbol H20, meaning it is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The oxygen atom is in group 6 of the periodic table which means it has 6 outer electrons on its outer most shell; hydrogen has 1 electron in its outer most shell and in need of one extra electron. By the oxygen sharing two of its electrons with two hydrogens and the hydrogen’s sharing each of their spare electrons this would mean that all three atoms have a full shared outer ring of electrons. This type of bonding is known a covalent bonding (the sharing of electrons).
Dative covalent
To understand dative covalent bonding, its best to look at it as the most generous form of bonding, in this type of bonding both electrons are supplied by one atom only.
Ionic bonding
The best way to understand ionic bonding is by first to realize that the bond is the result of electrostatic attraction between two oppositely charged Ions. this type of bonding is seen normally between a metal and non-metal, the metal is the atom which donates its electron or electrons to the non-metal, due to the loss of a negative charge (via the electron) the atom becomes a positive ion (there are more protons in the atom than there is now electrons meaning there is a greater positive charged exerted by the atom, thus turning it into a positive ion). Please read section on the atom if unclear about the charges in atoms.
The metal has lost electrons becoming a positively charged ion also known as a cation. The non-metal accepting the electrons is now more negatively charged thus becoming a negatively charged ion known as an anion. It is these opposite charges created by the transfer of electrons that an electrostatic force is created between the two, thus becoming an ionic bond.
The transfer of electrons is done so that the metal and non-metal would have a full outer shell of electrons.
