1.3.2

Covalent & Dative Bonding

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Covalent Bonding

Covalent bonding happens between non-metals.

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Covalent bonds

  • A covalent bond is one that contains a shared pair of electrons.
    • Usually, each atom gives one electron to the bond.
  • Molecules have covalent bonds holding the atoms together.
    • Covalent bonds are strong because the shared electrons are attracted to the nucleus of both atoms.
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Multiple bonding

  • Atoms can also form double (e.g. O2) or triple (e.g. N2) covalent bonds.
    • There are rare examples of quadruple, quintuple, and even sextuple bonds between some heavy metal compounds.
  • Multiple bonds contain shared pairs of electrons just like single bonds.
  • Multiple bonds are usually stronger than single bonds.

Dative Bonding

A dative bond is a special kind of covalent bond.

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Dative bonds

  • A dative bond is a covalent bond in which both electrons in the bond come from one atom.
    • Dative bonds are sometimes called coordinate bonds.
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E.g. Ammonium ion

  • Ammonium ions are made of an ammonia molecule that has attached to a hydrogen ion with its lone pair.
  • Both electrons for the coordinate bond come from the nitrogen atom.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

3Inorganic Chemistry

4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

5Organic Chemistry 1

6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.5Amines (A2 Only)

6.6Polymers (A2 Only)

6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

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