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Properties of Covalent Bonding

Covalent bonds form between atoms that share electrons. Molecules with covalent bonds have low melting and boiling points and do not conduct electricity. Covalent bonds can be represented by resonance structures that depict the electron distribution. Molecular geometry is determined by minimizing electron pair repulsion and follows the VSEPR model. Polar covalent bonds form between atoms of different electronegativity and result in a partial positive and negative charge on each atom. For a molecule to be polar, it must have polar bonds and a geometry where the bond dipoles do not cancel out.

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136 views9 pages

Properties of Covalent Bonding

Covalent bonds form between atoms that share electrons. Molecules with covalent bonds have low melting and boiling points and do not conduct electricity. Covalent bonds can be represented by resonance structures that depict the electron distribution. Molecular geometry is determined by minimizing electron pair repulsion and follows the VSEPR model. Polar covalent bonds form between atoms of different electronegativity and result in a partial positive and negative charge on each atom. For a molecule to be polar, it must have polar bonds and a geometry where the bond dipoles do not cancel out.

Uploaded by

MBOTAKE Lawson
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Covalent bonding

1.1) Properties of covalent bonding

 They are often liquids or gases at room temperature


 They have low melting and boiling points.
 They do not conduct electricity and hence are non-electrolytes.
 They are soluble in organic solvents like benzene, toluene etc and insoluble in inorganic
solvents like water.

1.2) Resonance Structures

 Sometimes we can draw more than one valid Lewis structure for a molecule or
polyatomic ion
 In this situation, no one Lewis structure can adequately describe the actual structure of
the molecule.
 The actual molecule or ion will have characteristics of all the valid Lewis structures that
can be drawn. (It is a hybrid of these Lewis structures).

Example writes the Lewis structures of:

a) SO2 b) HCO2-

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Shapes of Molecules
 The most important factor in determining the shape of a molecule or polyatomic ion is
the relative repulsion between electron pairs.
 A molecule or ion will be most stable when the electron pairs or groups are as far apart as
possible.

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Determining Molecular Geometry Using VSEPR Theory

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory:

 Repulsion between the negative charges on electron groups determines the molecular
geometry (shape) of a molecule or polyatomic ion

 Determine the Electron and Molecular Geometry of: NH3

 1st - Determine the Lewis structure of NH3

 2nd - Count electron"Groups" around the central atom [ In our example = 4 ]

 3rd - Determine Electron Geometry then Molecular Geometry

Four electron groups are at the corners of a tetrahedron

 Electron Geometry Tetrahedral


 Molecular Geometry Trigonal Pyramidal

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Exercise

Determine the Electron and Molecular Geometry of: H2O and CCl4

H 2O

CCl4

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Bond Polarity

 Bonding between unlike atoms results in unequal sharing of the electrons.


 One atom pulls the electrons in the bond closer to its side.
 One end of the bond has larger electron density than the
other. The result is a POLAR BOND
 The end with the larger electron density gets a partial negative charge (δ-) and the end
that is electron deficient gets a partial positive charge (δ+).

Example:
HCl

Electronegativity
 How can we determine which atom is δ+ and which is δ-
 Use electronegativity values of the atoms in a polar bond?
 Electronegativity is a measure of relative attraction that an atom has for the shared
electrons in a covalent bond

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Electronegativity

 Increases across the period (left to right)


 Decreases down the group (top to bottom)
 The larger the difference in electronegativity, the more polar the bond.

Main Classes of Chemical Bonds

1. Nonpolar Covalent Bond

 Electronegativity difference between zero and 0.4


 Many times between two identical atoms
 Example:

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2. Polar Covalent Bond

 Electronegativity difference between 0.4 and 2


 Between two different NONMETAL atoms

3. Ionic Bond

 Electronegativity difference is greater than 2


 Primarily exists between METALS and NONMETALS

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Polar Molecules

 Can show the direction of bond polarity with δ+ and δ- and/or a special arrow:

 Show the direction of bond polarity for the bond in HCl.

 In order for a MOLECULE to be polar:

It must have polar bonds AND it must have an unsymmetrical shape (central atom has
electrons not shared)

 If there are no polar bonds, then molecule is NONPOLAR

 If there are polar bonds and the bond dipoles cancel out

Molecule is NONPOLAR

 If there are polar bonds and the bond dipoles DO NOT cancel out,

Molecule is POLAR

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Activity

Determine whether the following molecules are POLAR or NONPOLAR.

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