Question

For each of the following covalent bonds:

- Write the symbols for each element.
- Draw a Lewis Dot structure for the valence shell of each element.
- Rearrange the electrons to pair up electrons from each atom.
- Draw circles to show the sharing of electrons between each pair of atoms.
- Draw the bond structure using chemical symbols and lines. Use one line for each pair of electrons that is shared.
- Write the chemical formula for each molecule.

a) Hydrogen + Hydrogen
b) Chlorine + Chlorine
c) Hydrogen + Chlorine
d) Hydrogen + Oxygen
e) Nitrogen + Hydrogen
f) Carbon + Hydrogen

Answer 1

The reactions are;

`H_2 + H_2 -- > 2H_2\\Cl_2 + Cl_2 --- > 2Cl_2\\H_2 + Cl_2 -- > 2HCl\\2H_2 + O_2 --- > 2H_2O\\N_2 + 3H_2 --- > 2NH_3\\C +2H_2 --- > CH_4`

Atoms share electrons with each other to form covalent compounds. To create a more stable electron configuration, two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons in a covalent bond. Since nonmetals tend to gain electrons in order to reach a full outer electron shell, this sharing takes place between them.

We can see that the combinations of all the elements that have been shown above are all covalent in nature. Covalent molecules can be simple, like diatomic gases, or complex, involving multiple atoms sharing electrons to form larger structures.