TheCovalentBond:

SharingElectrons

A covalent bond consists of a pair of

electrons
shared
between
two
atoms.
In
the
millions
of
chemical
compounds that exist, the covalent
bond
is
the
predominant chemical bond.

Substances which covalently

bond exist as molecules.
Carbon dioxide bonds covalently.
It exists as individually bonded
covalent molecules containing
one carbon and two oxygen
atoms.

11.7

The term molecule is not used

when
referring
to
ionic
substances.
Sodium chloride bonds ionically.
It consists of a large aggregate of
positive and negative ions. No
molecules of NaCl exist.

11.7

Covalent bonding in the hydrogen

molecule
The most likely
Two 1s orbitals from each of
two hydrogen atoms overlap.

Each 1s orbital contains 1

The two nuclei are
electron.
shielded from each
other by the electron
pair. This allows the
two nuclei to draw
close together.
11.8

The
orbital
of the
region
to find
the
electrons
includes
two electrons
is
both
hydrogen
between
the two
nuclei.
nuclei.

Covalent bonding The

in orbital
the ofchlorine
the
The two nuclei are
electrons
includes
molecule
shielded from each
Two 3p orbitals from
each
of
both
chlorine
two chlorine atomsnuclei.
overlap.

other by the
electron
pair.
This
The most
likely
allows
the
region
to two
find the
nuclei
to draw is
two electrons
close
together.
between
the two
nuclei.

11.9

Each
Each unpaired
3pchlorine
orbital now has 8
electrons
on each chlorine
atomin its outermost
energy level.
contains 1 electron.

Covalent bonding with equal

sharing of electrons occurs in
diatomic molecules formed from
one element.
hydrog
en

chlorine

iodine

nitroge
n

A dash may replace a pair of

dots.
7

Electronegativity

electronegativity The relative

attraction that an atom has for a
pair of shared electrons in a
covalent bond.

 If the two atoms that constitute a

covalent bond are identical then
there is equal sharing of electrons.

This is called nonpolar covalent

bonding.
Ionic bonding and nonpolar
covalent bonding represent
two extremes.

10

 If the two atoms that constitute a

covalent bond are not identical then
there is unequal sharing of electrons.

This is called polar covalent

bonding.
One atom assumes a partial
positive charge and the other
atom assumes a
partial
negative charge.
This charge difference is a result
of the unequal attractions the

11

Partial positivePartial
charge
negative charge
on hydrogen. on chlorine.

Polar Covalent Bonding in

HCl

:
:
H Cl

The attractive
force
that
an atom
of an
Chlorine has
a greater
attraction
for the
Shared
The shared
electron
electron
pair. pair
element shared
has electron
for shared
electrons
inthana
pair than is
hydrogen.
closer
to chlorine
hydrogen.
molecule or a polyatomictoion
is known as
12

A
scale
of
relative
electronegativities
was
developed by Linus Pauling.

13

Electronegativity generally
decreases
increases
down left
a
group
to
rightfor
across
representative
a period. elements.

14

The
are
The electronegativities
electronegativities of
of the
the metals
nonmetals
low.
are high.

11.1

15

The polarity of a bond is determined

by the difference in electronegativity
values of the atoms forming the
bond.

16

 If the electronegativity difference

between two bonded atoms is
greater than 1.7-1.9 the bond will
be more ionic than covalent.

If
the
electronegativity
difference is greater than 2,
the bond is strongly ionic.
If
the
electronegativity
difference is less than 1.5, the
bond is strongly covalent.
17

If the electronegativities are the same,

the bond is nonpolar covalent and the
electrons are shared equally.
The molecule is
nonpolar covalent.

Electronegativity
2.1

Electronegativity
2.1

Hydrogen Molecule

11.1

18

If the electronegativities are the same,

the bond is nonpolar covalent and the
electrons are shared equally.
The molecule is
nonpolar covalent.

Cl
Electronegativity
3.0

Cl

Electronegativity
Difference = 0.0

Electronegativity
3.0

Chlorine Molecule
11.1

19

If the electronegativities are not the

same, the bond is polar covalent and
the electrons are shared
unequally.
The
molecule is
polar covalent.

Electronegativity
2.1

Cl

Electronegativity
Difference = 0.9

Electronegativity
3.0

Hydrogen Chloride Molecule

11.1

20

If the electronegativities are very

different, the bond is ionic and the
electrons are transferred to the more
electronegative
atom.exists.
No molecule
The bond is ionic.
Electronegativity
Difference = 2.1

Na+
Electronegativity
0.9

ClElectronegativity
3.0

Sodium Chloride
11.1

21

A dipole is a molecule that is

electrically
asymmetrical,
causing it to be oppositely
charged at two points.

A dipole can be written +

as

22

An arrow can be used to indicate a

dipole.
The arrow points to the negative
end of the dipole.
Molecules of HCl, HBr and H2O are
O
polar .

Cl

Br

H
23

A molecule containing different

kinds of atoms may or may not be
polar depending on its shape.

The carbon dioxide molecule is

nonpolar because its carbonoxygen dipoles cancel each other
by acting in opposite directions.
24

Relating Bond Type to

Electronegativity Difference.

11.1

25