Atoms and Electronic Configuration Quiz

Chemical Bonding

• Atoms tend to combine to attain stable electronic configurations, which leads to reactivity.
• Inert gases have stable electronic configurations, making them chemically inactive.

Types of Chemical Bonding

• Atoms combine to form molecules through chemical bonding, involving the distribution of electrons to attain stable configurations.
• There are three ways atoms attain stable configurations through chemical combination: • Electron transfer • Electron sharing • Electron sharing, where one atom provides both electrons

Ionic Bonding

• Ionic bonds are formed by the complete transfer of one or more electrons from one element to another.
• Example: Sodium chloride (NaCl) formation, where an ionic bond is formed between sodium and chlorine atoms.
• Properties of ionic compounds: • Hard, crystalline, and brittle solids • High melting and boiling points • High density • Soluble in water, but insoluble in organic solvents • Good conductors of electricity in molten state and aqueous solution

Covalent Bonding

• Covalent bonds are formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms to attain stable configurations.
• Example: Chlorine molecule formation, where a covalent bond is formed between two chlorine atoms.
• Properties of covalent compounds: • Made of non-polar molecules (electron pairs shared equally) • Generally liquids or gases • Low melting and boiling points • Less density and lighter than water • Soluble in organic solvents, insoluble in water • Bad conductors of electricity

Ions and Electrochemical Reactions

• An ion is an electrically charged atom or group of atoms, formed by gaining or losing electrons.
• Cations: positively charged ions formed by losing electrons
• Anions: negatively charged ions formed by gaining electrons
• Oxidation: process of losing electrons
• Reduction: process of gaining electrons
• Oxidation and reduction always occur together, with an oxidizing agent accepting electrons and a reducing agent donating electrons.