Covalent Bonding Basics
Covalent bonds form when non-metal atoms decide to share electrons rather than fight over them. Think of it like flatmates sharing the electricity bill - everyone benefits and gets what they need.
The number of electron pairs shared depends on how many electrons each atom needs to fill its outer shell. A single bond shares one pair of electrons, whilst a double bond shares two pairs - like the difference between holding hands and bear-hugging.
There are three main types of covalent structures you need to know. Giant covalent structures like diamond contain billions of atoms all strongly bonded together. Small molecules like water contain just a few atoms bonded together, with different molecules held by much weaker forces.
Key Tip: Remember that covalent bonding only happens between non-metals - metals are too generous with their electrons to share nicely!
