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7: Molecules, Covalent Bonding, and the Nomenclature of Binary Covalent Compounds

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    451529
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    • 7.1: Covalent Bonds and Molecules
      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.
    • 7.2: Contrasting Ionic Compounds and Covalent Compounds
      The physical properties of covalent compounds are often very different from those of ionic compounds.
    • 7.3: The Dissolving Process- Ionic Compounds Versus Covalent Compounds
      When ionic compounds dissolve in water, they separate into cations and anions. An aqueous solution of an ionic compound is composed of individual cations and anions surrounded by water molecules. When covalent compounds dissolve in water, the molecules remain intact. An aqueous solution of a covalent compound is composed of individual, neutral molecules surrounded by water molecules.
    • 7.4: Binary 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.
    • 7.5: Drawing Lewis Structures
      Some molecules must have multiple covalent bonds between atoms to satisfy the octet rule.
    • 7.6: Resonance
      Resonance structures are used when a single Lewis structure cannot fully describe the bonding; the combination of possible resonance structures is defined as a resonance hybrid, which represents the overall delocalization of electrons within the molecule. In general, molecules with multiple resonance structures will be more stable than one with fewer.
    • 7.7: Molecular Geometry- VSEPR
      Simple molecules have geometries that can be determined from VSEPR theory.
    • 7.8: Polarity of Bonds
      Covalent bonds can be polar or nonpolar, depending on the electronegativity difference between the atoms involved.
    • 7.9: Polarity of Molecules
      A polarity of a molecule is determined from the polarity of the covalent bonds that comprise it and from their arrangement.


    7: Molecules, Covalent Bonding, and the Nomenclature of Binary Covalent Compounds is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.