Structure and Bonding in Chemistry
This page introduces the main types of bonding in compounds and their formation processes. It also covers the shapes of molecules and the principles behind them.
Ionic Bonding
Ionic bonding is the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. It occurs between metal and non-metal atoms, forming strong ionic bonds.
Definition: Ionic bonding is the transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal, resulting in the formation of positive and negative ions that are held together by electrostatic forces.
Covalent Bonding
Covalent bonding involves the sharing of electron pairs between non-metal atoms. It can form simple molecules or giant covalent structures like diamond and graphite.
Example: In a water molecule H2O, the oxygen atom shares electrons with two hydrogen atoms, forming covalent bonds.
Metallic Bonding
Metallic bonding occurs within metals. It involves the loss of outer electrons to form positive ions surrounded by a sea of delocalized electrons.
Coordinate Bonding
Coordinate bonding is a special type of covalent bond where both shared electrons come from the same atom.
Shapes of Molecules
The page presents a comprehensive table showing the shapes of molecules based on the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons.
Highlight: The shape of a molecule is determined by the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons around the central atom, following the principles of Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion VSEPR theory.
The table includes common shapes such as trigonal planar, tetrahedral, and octahedral, along with their bond angles.
Vocabulary: Bond angle - The angle formed between two adjacent bonds in a molecule.
The page concludes with a step-by-step guide on how to explain molecular shapes and bond angles, emphasizing the importance of considering lone pairs and their repulsion effects.
