Covalent Bond
Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A covalent bond is a type of chemical bond in which atoms share electrons with one another.
About Covalent Bonds
- Atoms are more chemically stable when their outer shell is full of electrons. One way atoms can have a full outer shell is by sharing some electrons with other atoms, this is a covalent bond.
- Covalent bonds happen between non-metal elements.
- Covalent bonds can be represented by a Dot and Cross Diagram to show how the electrons are shared between the outer shells of different atoms.
Examples
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| The two Oxygen atoms each share two of their electrons with one another. | The two Nitrogen atoms each share three of their electrons with one another. | Each Oxygen shares two of its electrons with the Carbon atom while the Carbon atom shares two electrons with each Oxygen atom. |
References
AQA
- Covalent bond, pages 57-9, 62-3, 72-5, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Covalent bonds, page 116, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Covalent bonds, page 31, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Covalent bonds, pages 154, 156-7, 163, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Covalent bonds, pages 29, 78-88, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Covalent bonds, pages 29, 80-90, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Covalent bonds, pages 38, 44-51, 149, 224-225, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Covalent bonds, pages 41-2, 47-8, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Covalent bonds; giant covalent substances, page 44, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Covalent bonds; giant covalent substances, pages 159-60, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
Edexcel
- Covalent bonds, pages 184-185, 186, 261, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel
- Covalent bonds, pages 40-41, 42, 147, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
- Covalent bonds; giant molecular structures, page 45, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
- Covalent bonds; simple molecular structures, page 42, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel