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5: Covalent Bonding and Simple Molecular Compounds

  • Page ID
    288269
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    Ionic bonding results from the transfer of electrons among atoms or groups of atoms. In this chapter, we will consider another type of bonding—covalent bonding. We will examine how atoms share electrons to form these bonds, and we will begin to explore how the resulting compounds, such as cholesterol, are different from ionic compounds.

    • 5.1: Prelude to Covalent Bonding and Simple Molecular Compounds
      Cholesterol, a compound that is sometimes in the news, is a white, waxy solid produced in the liver of every animal, including humans. It is important for building cell membranes and in producing certain hormones (chemicals that regulate cellular activity in the body). As such, it is necessary for life, but why is cholesterol the object of attention? Most medical professionals recommend diets that minimize the amount of ingested cholesterol as a way of preventing heart attacks and strokes.
    • 5.2: Covalent Bonds
      You have already seen examples of substances that contain covalent bonds. One substance mentioned previously was water (H₂O). You can tell from its formula that it is not an ionic compound; it is not composed of a metal and a nonmetal. Consequently, its properties are different from those of ionic compounds. A covalent bond is formed between two atoms by sharing electrons.
    • 5.3: Covalent Compounds - Formulas and Names
      The chemical formula of a simple covalent compound can be determined from its name. The name of a simple covalent compound can be determined from its chemical formula.
    • 5.4: Drawing Lewis Structures
      Some molecules must have multiple covalent bonds between atoms to satisfy the octet rule.
    • 5.5: Characteristics of Covalent Bonds
      Covalent bonds between different atoms have different bond lengths. Covalent bonds can be polar or nonpolar, depending on the electronegativity difference between the atoms involved.
    • 5.6: Characteristics of Molecules
      A molecule has a certain mass, called the molecular mass. Simple molecules have geometries that can be determined from VSEPR theory.
    • 5.7: Prelude to Solids, Liquids, and Gases
      Solid carbon dioxide is called dry ice because it converts from a solid to a gas directly, without going through the liquid phase, in a process called sublimation. Thus, there is no messy liquid phase to worry about. Although it is a novelty, dry ice has some potential dangers. Because it is so cold, it can freeze living tissues very quickly, so people handling dry ice should wear special protective gloves.
    • 5.8: Intermolecular Interactions
      A phase is a form of matter that has the same physical properties throughout. Molecules interact with each other through various forces: ionic and covalent bonds, dipole-dipole interactions, hydrogen bonding, and dispersion forces.
    • 5.9: Solids and Liquids
      Solids and liquids are phases that have their own unique properties.
    • 5.S: Covalent Bonding and Simple Molecular Compounds (Summary)
      To ensure that you understand the material in this chapter, you should review the meanings of the following bold terms in the following summary and ask yourself how they relate to the topics in the chapter.


    5: Covalent Bonding and Simple Molecular Compounds is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.