What is a covalent bond?
Q: What is a covalent bond?
A: A covalent bond is a chemical bond between two non-metal atoms, where the atoms share valence electrons. This creates an electron orbital that is bound to both atomic nuclei and has a lower energy level than the original electron orbital. As a result, the atom that provided the electron has a small net positive charge and the other atom has a small net negative charge, which are held together by an electromagnetic force of attraction between positive and negative charges.
Q: How many electrons does an atom usually have in its outer shell?
A: An atom's outer shell usually contains up to eight electrons, or two in the case of hydrogen or helium.
Q: What determines the number of electrons in an atom?
A: The number of electrons in an atom is determined by the number of protons in the atom.
Q: How do covalent bonds form?
A: Covalent bonds form when atoms get close to each other and one loosely held electron from one atom jumps into a new orbital that is bound to both atomic nuclei with a lower energy level than before. This results in one atom having a small net positive charge and another having a small net negative charge, creating an electromagnetic force of attraction between them.
Q: What type of molecule is water?
A: Water molecules consist of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms held together by covalent bonds, making it a polar molecule because its charge is not evenly distributed.
Q: Where do electrons orbit around atomic nuclei?
A: Electrons orbit around atomic nuclei like fuzzy orbital paths.
