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CHEMICAL BONDING
Bonding-is the linking / joining of atoms to form compounds or molecules whether by losing /gaining or
sharing electrons.

-They do so in order to attain stable electronic configuration.

TYPES OF BONDING

a) IONIC BONDING /ELECTROVALENT

-it involves the transfer of valence electrons i.e. electron(s) transfer.

-metals lose electrons to non-metals

-when metals lose electrons they form positively charged ions called cations.

-when non-metals gain electrons they form negatively charged ions called anions.

 Ionic bond occurs when a positive ion attract a negative ion. The ions are held together by strong
electrostatic forces of attraction in a giant lattice structure.

Dot and cross diagrams are used to demonstrate bonding.

e.g. 1. Sodium + Chlorine Sodium chloride

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2. Magnesium + Chlorine Magnesium chloride

Magnesium chloride (MgCl2 )

EXERCISE

1. Use dot and cross diagrams to show ionic bonding in

a) Magnesium oxide
b) Aluminium chloride
c) Aluminium oxide

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GIANT CRYSTAL LATTICE / IONIC LATTICE STRUCTURE

NB: An ionic compound is a giant structure of ions. The ions have a regular, repeating arrangement
called an ionic lattice . The lattice is formed because the ions attract each other and form a regular
pattern with oppositely charged ions next to each other.

e.g. Ionic lattice of Sodium chloride

PROPERTIES OF IONIC COMPOUNDS

Physical properties
 They have high melting and boiling points;- because of a very strong electrostatic force of
attraction between cations & anions. i.e. a lot of energy is needed to break the bonds.
 They are soluble in inorganic solvents eg. water, but insoluble in organic solvents eg.
ethanol.
 They have / form shiny crystals which are hard and brittle

Chemical property
 They are good conductors of electricity only in a molten / liquid state or in aqueous state (i.e.
when dissolved in water) because of mobile ions / free moving ions.
NB: in a solid state, they do not conduct electricity because particles are in a fixed position (not
mobile).

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b) COVALENT BONDING

-it envolves sharing of electrons between non-metal atoms so as to attain stable configuration.
-there are about three (3) types of covalent bonding.

i) A Single Cavalent bond

-is also called a molecular bond.
-is a shared pair of electrons
-it depends on the valency of an atom (ie the number of electrons that an atom gives for sharing).
-a single covalent bond can be represented by a dash ( ).

e.g. Hydrogen molecule ( H2 )

Hydrogen chloride molecule (HCl)

Water molecule ( H2 O )

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ii) Double Covalent bond

-2 pairs of shared electrons ( ).

e.g. Oxygen molecule (O2 )

Double covalent bond

Carbon dioxide molecule ( CO 2 )

2 Double covalent bonds

iii) Triple Covalent bond

-3 pairs of shared electrons ( )

e.g. Nitrogen molecule ( N 2 )

Triple covalent bond

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NB: A molecule can have more than one type of covalent bonds.

e.g. Hydrogen cyanide molecule ( HCN )

1 Single bond and 1 triple bond

Ethene molecule ( C2H4 )

4 single bonds and

1 double covalent bond

EXERCISE

1. Use dot-cross diagrams to show covalent bonding in the following molecules: ( show only the outer
electrons).

a) Methane (CH4 )
b) Ammonia (NH3 )
c) Chlorine (Cl2 )
d) Tetrachloro methane ( CCl4 )

PROPERTIES OF COVALENT COMPOUNDS

 They have low melting and boiling points due to weak van der waals forces of attraction
between molecules.

e.g. Water ( H2O )

Intramolecular forces (strong)

Intermolecular forces (weak)

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Intramolecular forces- are strong forces of attraction within molecules. (i.e. covalent bonds
between atoms).

Intermolecular forces- are weak forces of attraction between molecules

 They are soluble in organic solvents e.g. ethanol but insoluble in inorganic solvents e.g.
water.
 They do not form crystals but form low melting solids, liquids or gases at room temperatures.
 They do not conduct electricity in any state because of the absence of ions.

GIANT MOLECULAR COMPOUNDS

These are Giant covalent structures that are made up of many covalent bonds between atoms.

e.g. Compounds of Carbon

-carbon exists in two different structural forms called allotropes.

Allotropy-is the existence of the same element in different structures but the same physical state.

The main allotropes of carbon are diamond and graphite.

Diamond Graphite

 Is a colourless and transparent crystal  Is a dark-grey shiny solid

which sparkles in light due to its high  Used to make pencil lead.
refractive index.
 Used in jewellery.
 Is a very hard substance due to strong  Is a very soft & slippery material due
tetrahedral structure hence, to weak forces/bonds between layers
 Is used to make drill bits to hence,
cut metals and glass.  Used as a lubricant
 It does not conduct electricity due to  Is a good conductor of electricity due
the absence of mobile electrons. to delocalized electrons between
hexagonal layers hence,
 Used to make electrodes and
in car batteries.

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METALLIC BONDING

Metallic bonding is a type of chemical bonding that rises from the electrostatic attractive force between
conduction electrons (in the form of an electron cloud of delocalized electrons) and positively charged
metal ions.

The outer electrons of metal atoms are held loosely from the atoms since they are far from the attractive
nucleus.

The electrons in metal atoms usually get lost from the atoms and form a sea / pool / ocean of delocalized
electrons and atoms become positively charged (i.e cations). Cations are then attracted to the negative
sea/pool of electrons resulting in a strong metallic bond.

Properties of Metals

 They are malleable (ie can be shaped)-due to force of attractions between metal ions and sea of
electrons.
 They are ductile (ie. can be drawn into wires) due to metallic bond between metal ions and sea of
electrons.
 Sonorous (ie. produce a sonorous sound when beaten) due to metallic bond between metal ions
and sea of electrons.
 Have high melting and boiling points due to strong metallic bond.
 They are good conductors of heat and electricity due to sea / pool / ocean of delocalized electrons
which carry charge.

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PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. Fill in the blanks.

a)

b)

c)

2.

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3.

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4.

5.

[Total: 24marks]

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