Atomic combinations:

Molecular structure
Unit 1
Describing a chemical bond
 Chemical bond:
A chemical bond occurs
when atoms bond
together to form a new
substance with new
properties and in so
doing have a noble gas
electron structure and a
lower potential energy.
Energy levels of noble gases
Electron configuration of noble
gases
 Why do atoms bond?
• To be more stable like the noble gases.
• Elements try to obtain filled energy levels (8 valence
electrons.
• so that the product will have a lower potential
energy than the reactants.
• Only valence electrons take part in the bonding
process.
• Valence electrons are electrons in the outermost shell
of an atom (grade 10 work)
Bonding models

• Covalent bond:
• Bonds between non-
metals
• Electrons shared.
• Half-filled orbitals →
form filled orbital.
• Electronegativity (EN)
- the same or 2.1
(1.7) and less.
• Non-polar bonds:

• Example:
• O + O → O2

attracts shared
electron pairs equally
• Polar bond: δ+ δ-

δ+ δ-
• H2 + Cℓ2 → 2HCℓ

chlorine attracts
shared electron pairs
more strongly
• Ionic bond:
• Bond between metals and non-metals
• Electron transfer.
• ΔEN more than 2.1 (1,7).
• Smallest particle: ion.
• Example: Sodium Chloride

Low first
ionisation-energy
Na → Na+ + e- anion
High electron
affinity Cℓ + e- → Cℓ-

strong electrostatic
attract each other attraction force or
Coulomb forces

• Na+ + Cℓ- → Na+Cℓ-

• Positive atomic cores
form a closely-
packed crystal
lattice.
• Smallest particle:
positive core ion.
• Closely-packed
crystal lattice
Metallic bond:

• Bonds within
metals
• Positive atomic
core with a sea of
delocalised
electrons
 Valence electrons
• Electrons in highest energy level
• Match group number
• Valence electrons involved with bonding
 Valence electrons of some elements:

Element Group Period Valence Number of

electrons valence
electrons

Na 1 (I) 3 3s1 1

Mg 2 (II) 3 3s2 2

N 5 (V) 2 2s22p3 5

O 6 (VI) 2 2s22p4 6

Cℓ 7 (VII) 3 3s23p5 7

Use Periodic Table with numbers 1 – 8

 Valency
• Number of electrons taken up, given away or
shared.
• No symbol

Lewis structure
• Valence electrons indicated with dots.
 Examples of Lewis diagrams for period 2:
Group 1 Group 2 Group Group Group Group Group Group
(I) (II) 13 14 15 16 17 18
(III) (IV) (V) (VI) (VII) (VIII)
 Homework
• Page 53
• Activity 3.1
• Number 1-3

• Page 54
• Exercise 3.1
• Number 1-4
• A chemical bond takes place because of the
simultaneous attraction between the valence
electrons and opposite nucleus and also the
repulsion between the electrons and electrons
and protons –protons of opposing atoms
Potential energy
NB!!!: page 55!!!

Bond length Distance between

atoms

Bonding
energy

Molecule is most
stable
 Molecular models (Grade 10)
Model
Nam Molecular
e Formula Ball and stick spacefilling

Hydroge
n

Wate
r
 Lewis Diagrams
single covalent bonds:
H2: H21-atom H21-atom

1s 1s

Orbitals overlap: The H2-molecule:

1s

Lewis-structure: H + H _______ (only use

valence e)

Couper-structure___________ (only use bonding

pair e)
b) F2: F199 -atom F199 –atom

2p 2p

2s
2s
1s
1s
Orbitals overlap: Fluorine molecule:

2p 2p

2s 2s

1s 1s
• Couper diagram:??? (do research)
c) O2:
Double bonds
O168-atom O168-atom

2p 2p

2s 2s

1s 1s

Orbitals overlap: The oxygen molecule:

2p 2p

2s 2s

1s 1s
Couper-structure:?? (do research)
 Triple bonds
d) N2: N147-atom N147-atom

2p 2p

2s 2s

1s 1s

Orbitals overlap: The nitrogen molecule:

2p 2p

2s 2s

1s 1s
Lewis-structure: ?? (do research)

Couper-structure: ?? (do research)

HCl: H21-atom , Cl1735,5-atom

1s 3p
3s

2p

2s

1s

Orbitals overlap:
3p

3s

2p
HCl
2s

1s
Lewis-structure: ?? (do research)
Couper-structure:?? (do research)
 H2O
e) H2O: H21-atom H21-atom O168-atom

1s 1s 2p

2s

1s

Orbitals overlap: The water molecule:

2p

2s

1s
Lewis-structure: ?? (research)
Couper-structure:?? (research)
NH3: H21-atom , H21-atom , H21-atom en N147-atom

1s 1s 1s 2p

2s

1s

Orbitals overlap: Ammonia molecule:

2p

2s

1s
Lewis-structure:??
Couper-structure:??
Co2 and CH4
Steps:

• Choose a central atom.

• Determine the total number of valence electrons
• Put one pair of electrons between each.
• Place the remaining electrons as lone pairs
around the terminal atoms.
• If the central atom has less than eight electrons (4
× 2 pairs) around it, move some of the lone pairs
to a position between the central and terminal
atoms.
• See example pg 61
 Single/double/ Polar or non-
Formula Lewis diagram
triple bond polar
H2 Single Non-polar
Hydrogen

F2 Single Non-polar
Fluorine

H 2O Single Polar
Water
 Single/double/ Polar or non-
Formula Lewis diagram
triple bond polar bond
NH3 Single Polar
Ammonia

CH4 Single Non-polar

Methane

O2 Double Non-polar
Oxygen
 Single/double/ Polar or non-
Formula Lewis diagram
triple bond polar bond
N2 Triple Non-polar
Nitrogen

HCℓ Single Polar

Hydrogen
chloride
 Examples:

• Draw the Lewis structure for a carbon dioxide

molecule (CO2).
1. The central atom: C (lowest electronegativity)
2. Number of valence electrons
• = 4 (C) + 6 (O) + 6 (O)
• = 16 (8 pairs)
3. Place one electron pair between the central
and each terminal atom.
(4 e- placed.)

• 4. Place remaining valence electrons as lone

pairs around the terminal atoms.
• Remaining electrons:
• 16 - 4 = 12 (6 pairs)
5. Carbon does not have eight electrons around
it. Move one electron pair from both sides.
6. The C atom now has eight electrons around it
and the O atoms also have eight electrons
around them.
 Homework
• Page 58
• Exercise 3.2
• Number 1-6

• Exercise 3.3

• Page 61
• Exercise 3.3
• Number 1 and 2

43
1.9 Dative covalent bond
• Examples:
• Ammonium ion (NH4+):
• The ammonia molecule has one lone pair and the
hydrogen ion has an empty s-orbital.
• A dative covalent bond is formed.

dative covalent
bond
• Hydronium ion (H3O+)
• The water molecule has two lone pairs and the hydrogen
ion has an empty s-orbital.

electron pair

dative covalent
bond