Lesson 1.

6: covalent bonds page 1 of 4

A) Covalent vs Ionic
Electronegativity (e.neg): How “hungry” an atom is for the electrons of another atom
Ionic Bonding Covalent Bonding
 Lithium easily  Hydrogen has a
loses its fairly strong
electron to the hold on its
much more electron
electronegative  Fluorine is not
Lithium Fluorine fluorine Hydrogen Fluorine strong enough
e.neg = 1.0 e.neg = 4.0  This results in a e.neg = 2.0 e.neg = 4.0 to take the
Formula Unit positive ion and Compound electron from
a negative ion hydrogen
 The oppositely  The atoms
charged ions achieve a stable
come together outer shell by
because of sharing
electrostatic electrons
attraction

Note: Why do atoms come together into covalent compounds in the first place?
Ex. Hydrogen Fluoride
 The fluorine nucleus (+) is attracted to the hydrogen electron (-)
 The hydrogen nucleus (+) is attracted to the fluorine electrons (-)
 However, if the atoms get too close together, their positive nuclei will repel each other
 The ideal distance is when the repulsion balances the attraction
 Once the orbitals overlap, the hydrogen electron, while traveling around the hydrogen, enters the
vicinity of the fluorine valence shell
o When this happens, it is as though fluorine had an extra electron and a full shell
 The fluorine valence electrons enter the vicinity of the hydrogen valence shell
o it is also as though hydrogen had an extra valence electron and a full shell

B) Binary Covalent Nomenclature

 A binary covalent compound is made of two non-metals
 These compounds are named using prefixes
 The prefix “mono” only goes on the second element, and all names end in -ide
Mono = 1 Di = 2 Tri = 3 Tetra = 4 Penta = 5
Hexa = 6 Hepta = 7 Octa = 8 Nona = 9 Deca = 10

Example:
Sulfur hexafluoride Carbon monoxide Dinitrogen monoxide

ClO PF5 P4S3

Lesson 1.6: covalent bonds page 2 of 4

C) Showing how Atoms Share Electrons: Lewis Diagrams

1) Going from Bohr Diagrams to Lewis Diagrams
Lewis diagram for
hydrogen fluoride:

Bohr Diagram: H2O Lewis Diagram: H2O

Bonding pairs = _____
Lone pairs = _____

Does every atom have

an octet (or duet?)

Line Structure:

2) Drawing Lewis Diagrams

Steps for Drawing Lewis Diagrams1 Ex. NH3
1) Count all the valence electrons
2) Determine the central atom
• Often this is the atom there is only one of
• Often this is the least electronegative atom
• Often this is the atom with the most unpaired electrons
o Drawing the Lewis structure for the atom to determine this
• Hydrogen and halogens are usually on the outside
3) Draw single bonds to the central atom
• Spread the atoms as far away from each other as you can
4) Put all remaining valence electrons on atoms as lone pairs
o Place lone pairs on outer atoms first
5) Turn lone pairs into double or triple bonds to give every atom an octet or duet

Ex. CO2 Ex. CO Ex. CH2O

1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIuXl7o6mAw
Lesson 1.6: covalent bonds page 3 of 4

D) Lewis Structures for Organic Compounds

 Organic compounds contain carbon
 The carbons are linked together in the center, and the hydrogens are on the outside
 Often the formula of an organic compound gives clues about its structure
Ex. CH3 Ex. C2H6 Ex. CH3OH

E) Exceptions to the Octet Rule

 Only C, N, O, F follow the octet rule

1) Electron deficient atoms have a valence that needs less than 8 electrons
Ex. BH3 (B can have 6vse) Ex. BeF2 (Be can have 4 vse) Ex. AlCl3 (Al can have 6 vse)

2) Hypervalent atoms have octets that are satisfied with more than 8 electrons
Ex. PCl5 Ex. XeF4 Ex. ClF3
Lesson 1.6: covalent bonds page 4 of 4

G) Lewis structures with odd numbers of valence electrons

 Odd
 make turn a molecule into a radical
 These are very reactive molecules

Ex. NO2 Ex. NO Ex. ClO

H) Lewis structures for polyatomic ions

 A polyatomic compound is a covalent compound that has a charge
 If the charge is “+”, subtract 1 electron from the total valence electrons
 If the charge is “-“, add 1 electron to the total number of valence electrons
Ex. ClO3- Ex. HCO3- Ex. NH4+