2.5.2

Formation of Covalent Bonds

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Representing Covalent Bonds

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

Dot-and-cross with shells

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.
Dot-and-cross without shells

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.
Ball-and-stick

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.
Lines

Lines

  • The atomic symbol represents the atom.
  • Lines between the atoms represent a covalent bond.
Jump to other topics
1

States of Matter

2

Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3

Stoichometry

4

Electrochemistry

5

Chemical Energetics

6

Chemical Reactions

7

Acids, Bases & Salts

8

The Periodic Table

9

Metals

10

Chemistry of the Environment

11

Organic Chemistry

11.1

Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2

Naming Organic Compounds

11.3

Fuels

11.4

Alkanes

11.5

Alkenes

11.6

Alcohols

11.7

Carboxylic Acids

11.8

Polymers

12

Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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