Structures and Bonding: Types of Chemical Bonding

Chemical bonding involves atoms joining together to form compounds. This process is necessary to achieve full outer electron shells for all involved atoms.
There are three main types of chemical bonding: ionic bonding, covalent bonding, and metallic bonding.
Ionic bonding occurs between metal and non-metal atoms. In this process, electrons are transferred from the metal atoms to the non-metal atoms to achieve full outer shells. This generates two oppositely charged ions that attract each other, forming an ionic bond.
An example of an ionic compound is sodium chloride (NaCl). Here, the sodium atom loses an electron to become Na+, and the chlorine atom gains that electron to become Cl-. The opposite charges attract, leading to an ionic bond.
Covalent bonding happens between two non-metal atoms. In covalental bonding, electrons are shared between atoms instead of being transferred, to fulfill the need for full outer shells.
Water (H2O) is an example of a covalent compound. In it, the oxygen atom shares its electrons with two hydrogen atoms. Each hydrogen atom likewise shares one of its electrons with the oxygen atom, forming two covalent bonds.
Metallic bonding occurs between metal atoms. In this type of bonding, electrons are freely shared among a lattice of ions. The movement of these shared electrons creates a ‘sea of electrons’, facilitating conductivity and malleability in metals.
It’s essential to remember that these bonds form due to the electrostatic force of attraction between positively charged and negatively charged particles.
Each type of bonding presents different properties in the resulting compounds. For example, ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points, while covalently bonded compounds can exist in various states at room temperature.
Understanding different types of chemical bonding is key to explaining and predicting the properties of various materials. It’s also vital in the understanding of interactions over small and large distances.