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Element Bonding Key

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7 views2 pages

Element Bonding Key

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ABerm
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_____KEY__________________

Basic Principles of Element Bonding

Atoms start with a specific number of valence electrons. They will then form bonds to try to fill up their valence shells. This
leads to predictable numbers of bonds and non-bonding electrons because first and second row atoms cannot exceed a full
shell.

The number of bonds for a neutral atom is equal to the number of electrons in the full valence shell (2 or 8 electrons) minus
the number of valence electrons. This method works because each covalent bond that an atom forms adds another electron to
an atoms valence shell without changing its charge.

number of bonds(for a neutral atom) = (full valence shell) – (number of valence electrons)

For example, hydrogen typically makes one bond because its full valence shell is 2 and its valence number is 1. Carbon
typically makes four bonds because its full valence shell is 8 and its valence number is 4.

This same method can be used to calculate the number of electrons that are not participating in bonding. The number of non-
bonding electrons is equal to the number of electrons in a full valence shell minus the number electrons, which are
participating in bonding (which is 2 x the typical number of bonds). The number of lone pairs is the number of non-bonding
electrons divided by two.

number of non-bonding electrons(for a neutral atom) = (full valence shell) – 2 x (number of bonds)

For example, hydrogen typically has 0 non-bonding


electrons. The full valence shell for hydrogen is 2 and the
number of electrons in bonds is also 2. The difference is zero.
Oxygen typically has 4 non-bonding electrons (or 2 lone
pairs). The full valence shell for oxygen is 8 and the number
of electrons in bonds is 4. Therefore, the difference is 4.

Ionic and Covalent Bonds

An ionic bond is where one atom takes one valence electron from the other. This will give one atom a positive formal charge
and the other a negative formal charge. The two atoms stay together because of the electrostatic attraction of the plus and
minus charges.

A covalent bond is where two atoms share two electrons. They do this to try to fill their valence shells. Covalent bonds have
well defined lengths (~1.0 to 2.5 Å) and bond strengths (~100 kcal/mol)

One way to predict whether a bond is ionic or covalent is to look how far apart the two atoms forming the bonds are in the
periodic table. If one atom is of the far left (Group 1 or 2) and the other is on the far right (Group 5, 6, or 7), then the atoms
will have large differences in EN and will form an ionic bond. Most other pairs of atoms are close enough in EN to form
covalent bonds. For example, any two atoms in the main group elements (Groups 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), will usually form a covalent
bond. Remember to treat hydrogen like a Group 3 element as its EN is closest to boron.
Examples:

Na and Cl --> ionic


K and O --> ionic
Ca and O --> ionic
C and F --> covalent
Si and Cl --> covalent
C and C --> covalent
C and H --> covalent
B and F --> covalent

Covalent and ionic are just the two extremes of the different types of bonds. There is actually a continuum of bond
types. Most bonds have some covalent and some ionic character. For example, a C-C covalent bond has little or no ionic
character because the two atoms have the same EN's. The Si-F is one of the most polarized covalent bonds and has a lot of
ionic character. The N-Li bond is ionic but has significant covalent character.

1. The number of electrons in the outer shell 6. In ionic bonding electrical forces between same
A) ion charged ions holds the atoms together.
B) valence A) True
C) isotope B) False
D) atomic mass
7. In covalent bonding
2. These elements don't bond with other elements A) Some electrons are shared by all the atoms.
because their outer shell is filled. B) Bonding takes place between positively charged areas
A) metals of one molecule with a negatively charged area of another
B) none of the answers are correct molecule.
C) noble solids C) One atom takes the outer shell electrons from another
D) Inert gases atom.
D) A couple of atoms share their electrons with each
3. Most atoms adopt one of three simple strategies to other.
achieve a filled shell. Which of the following is NOT one
of these strategies. 8. Which element forms the basis for organic chemistry
A) accept electrons A) hydrogen
B) Keep their own electrons B) oxygen
C) Give away electrons C) all of the above
D) Share electrons D) carbon

4. Which of the following is NOT a type of chemical 9. O2 is an example of what type of bonding
bond? A) Metallic
A) Metallic B) Hydrogen
B) Ionic C) None of the above
C) Covalent D) Ionic
D) All of the answers are correct
10. Which particles play the most active role in chemical
5. In ionic bonding bonding?
A) Electrons are accepted A) electrons
B) Electrons are shared B) neutrons
C) Electrons are given away C) valence electrons
D) Two answers are correct D) protons

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