2.5.2

Formation of Covalent Bonds

Test yourself

Representing Covalent Bonds

There are many ways of representing covalent bonds in a molecule. 4 ways of representing ammonia are shown below:

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Dot-and-cross with shells

  • Dots represent the outer shell electrons of atoms of 1 element.
  • Crosses represent the outer shell electrons of atoms of the other element.
  • A limitation of this method is that it shows electrons differently for each atom, when they are actually exactly the same.
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Dot-and-cross without shells

  • Dots represent the outer shell electrons of atoms of 1 element.
  • Crosses represent the outer shell electrons of atoms of the other element.
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Ball-and-stick

  • Balls represent atoms.
  • Sticks represent bonds between the atoms.
  • A limitation of this method is that atoms are much closer together than the diagram shows.
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Lines

  • The atomic symbol represents the atom.
  • Lines between the atoms represent a covalent bond.

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3Stoichometry

4Electrochemistry

5Chemical Energetics

6Chemical Reactions

7Acids, Bases & Salts

8The Periodic Table

9Metals

10Chemistry of the Environment

11Organic Chemistry

11.1Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2Naming Organic Compounds

11.3Fuels

11.4Alkanes

11.5Alkenes

11.6Alcohols

11.7Carboxylic Acids

11.8Polymers

12Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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