Types of Chemical Bonds

Study Notes

Ionic Bond: formed between two atoms that have a large difference in electronegativity, resulting in the transfer of one or more electrons. One atom loses an electron(s) to become a positively charged ion (cation), while the other atom gains an electron(s) to become a negatively charged ion (anion).
Covalent Bond: formed between two atoms that share one or more pairs of electrons. This type of bond typically occurs between non-metal atoms.
Polar Covalent Bond: a type of covalent bond that occurs when two atoms share electrons unequally, resulting in a partial positive charge on one atom and a partial negative charge on the other.
Hydrogen Bond: a weak bond between a hydrogen atom bonded to a highly electronegative atom (such as oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine) and another electronegative atom.

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory: predicts the shape of molecules based on the arrangement of electron pairs around the central atom.
Molecular Orbital (MO) Theory: describes the distribution of electrons in a molecule in terms of molecular orbitals.

Bond Length: the distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms.
Bond Strength: the energy required to break a bond.
Bond Polarity: the distribution of electrons within a bond, resulting in a partial positive or negative charge on the atoms involved.

Metals: typically form ionic bonds with non-metals, but can also form metallic bonds with other metals.
Non-metals: typically form covalent bonds with other non-metals.
Metalloids: exhibit intermediate properties between metals and non-metals, and can form both ionic and covalent bonds.

Determines Physical Properties: such as melting and boiling points, solubility, and conductivity.
Determines Chemical Properties: such as reactivity and acidity.
Essential for Life: chemical bonding plays a crucial role in biological processes, such as protein structure and function.

Ionic bonds form between atoms with a large electronegativity difference, resulting in electron transfer and the creation of ions.
Covalent bonds form between non-metal atoms, involving the sharing of one or more pairs of electrons.
Polar covalent bonds occur when atoms share electrons unequally, resulting in partial positive and negative charges.
Hydrogen bonds are weak bonds between a hydrogen atom bonded to a highly electronegative atom and another electronegative atom.

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory predicts molecular shapes based on electron pair arrangements around the central atom.
Molecular Orbital (MO) Theory describes electron distribution in molecules in terms of molecular orbitals.

Bond length is the distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms.
Bond strength is the energy required to break a bond.
Bond polarity is the distribution of electrons within a bond, resulting in partial positive or negative charges.

Metals typically form ionic bonds with non-metals, but can also form metallic bonds with other metals.
Non-metals typically form covalent bonds with other non-metals.
Metalloids exhibit intermediate properties and can form both ionic and covalent bonds.

Chemical bonding determines physical properties such as melting and boiling points, solubility, and conductivity.
Chemical bonding determines chemical properties such as reactivity and acidity.
Chemical bonding is essential for life, playing a crucial role in biological processes like protein structure and function.