Covalent Bonding

Covalent Bonding Occurs Between Two Atoms When They Share Electrons. It Is Often Seen Between Non-Metals And Is Responsible For Most Of The Physical And Chemical Properties Of Substance. A Covalent Bond Is Made Up Of Electron Pairs That Are Shared Equally Between The Atoms. They Can Be Single, Double, Or Triple Bonds, Depending On How Many Pairs Of Electrons Are Being Shared. For Example, Water Molecules Contain A Single Covalent Bond Where Two Hydrogen Atoms Share Two Electrons With An Oxygen Atom. Similarly, Methane Molecules Contain Four Covalent Bonds, With Each Hydrogen Atom Sharing Electrons With The Central Carbon Atom. Covalent Bonds Are Usually Much Stronger Than Ionic Bonds. This Is Because The Electrons In A Covalent Bond Are Held More Closely Between The Atoms Than In An Ionic Bond. The Increased Strength Of A Covalent Bond Means That These Molecules Are Much Harder To Break Apart, Making Them More Stable And Resistant To Change. Furthermore, Molecules With Covalent Bonds Are Usually Non-Polar. This Means That The Electrons Are Distributed Evenly Between The Atoms, So The Molecule Itself Has No Overall Charge. The Covalent Bond Is An Important Component Of Organic Chemistry As It Helps Form Molecules With Different Properties. For Example, The Ability Of Molecules To Interact With Each Other Is A Result Of Atoms Sharing Electrons With Each Other. This Allows The Creation Of Molecules With Unique Chemical And Physical Characteristics, Such As Different Shapes And Sizes, As Well As Different Reactivities. This Helps Explain Why There Are So Many Unique Compounds In Nature And Why Chemical Reactions Can Occur In Specific Ways. Covalent Bonding Also Explains Why Molecules With The Same Elemental Composition Can Have Different Properties. Different Atoms Can Have Different Bonds With Different Types Of Elements, Which In Turn Results In Different Molecular Shapes And Distinguishing Properties.