What is Covalent Bonding?
When non-metals react with non-metals they share
and form a covalent bond. Covalent means sharing.
If you do not know whether an element is
a metal or a non-metal, see the periodic table.
A covalent bond forms because of the electrostatic
between the nuclei of the atoms (that are positive)
and the shared electrons (that are negative).
There are no ions present (no + or - charges) because the
electrons are shared, not transferred from one atom to another.
pair of shared electrons form a
Two pairs of shared electrons form a double covalent bond.
Three pairs of shared electrons form a triple covalent bond.
What is a Molecule?
Only covalent compounds are called molecules.
If the compound is ionic it is not called a molecule.
Covalent compounds containing a small number of atoms
are called simple molecules. Simple means
that only a small number of atoms are present.
If a huge number of atoms are
present it would be called a giant molecule.
Links Revision Quizzes Revision Questions
gcsescience.com The Periodic Table Index Covalent Bonding Quiz gcsescience.com
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