Science Grade 10
Chemical Bonds
Many elements form compounds but not the noble gases..
The valency shell of the atoms of noble gases has eight electrons each. This electronic structure
has been identified as a stable electronic configuration. Because of this stable configuration their
reactivity is very low.
Example
Neon 2, 8
Ne
Ar
Argon 2, 8, 8
In the atoms of these element electrons in the valence shell recognize to acquire the stable
electronic configuration. That means loss, gain or sharing of electrons occurs.
The attractive forces or binding among the atoms or ions resulted by the rearrangement of
electrons in the valence shell for stabilizing the atoms of elements as described above are
called chemical bonds.
Chemical bonds can be divided into two types
(i) Ionic bonds (ii) Covalent bonds
Positive ions
Example
(i) Na+ ion
Na Na
(ii) Ca++ ion
Ca Ca
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Negative ions
Example
(i) Cl- ion
Cl Cll
(ii) O- ion
O O
Ionic bonds
The bonds formed due to the strong electrostatic attractions between the positive and
negative ions produced are known as ionic bonds or electrovalent bonds.
Ionic Compounds
Mostly the ionic bonds are formed between the positive ions produced by the atoms of low
electronegativity and the negative ions formed by the atoms of high electronegativity.
Compound Chemical formula
Sodium chloride
Lithium oxide
Magnesium sulphide
Calcium chloride
Potassium fluoride
In addition to the above compounds, ionic bonds are formed during the combination of ionic
radicals and ions also. Presents some examples for such compounds.
Compound Chemical formula
Copper sulphate
Calcium carbonate
Ammonium chloride
Ammonium nitrate
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Examples for ionic compounds
(i) NaCl
Na Cl
Na Cl
(ii) MgCl2
Cl Mg Cl
Cl Mg Cl
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What are the characteristics of ionic bonds?
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Ionic lattice of NaCl
The attractions among the ions in the compound sodium chloride is not limited to a single pair of
Na+ and Cl- ions. Owing to the attractions, a large number of positive and negative ions arrange
themselves to form a regular three dimensional array where six Na+ ions surround every Cl- ion
and six Cl- ions surround every Na+ ion. This arrangement gives rise to the crystal lattice of
sodium chloride known as an 'ionic lattice'. In all ionic compounds the ions are organised in a
three dimensional lattice.
Covalent Bonds
Ioining of atoms by sharing electrons between a pair of atoms is referred to as a covalent
bond.
Sharing of electrons between atoms of the same kind gives rise to homoatomic molecules.
e.g. hydrogen (H2), fluorine (F2), oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2)
Sharing of electrons between atoms of different elements gives rise to heteroatomic
molecules.
e.g. water (H2O), methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3)
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a) Fluorine molecule
b) Hydrogen molecule
c) Methane molecule
d) Hydrogen chloride molecule
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e) Carbon tetrachloride molecule
f) Water
g) Ammonia molecule
h) Oxygen molecule
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i) Carbon dioxide molecule
j) Nitrogen molecule
Dot and Cross diagram
In this method electrons of one atom are represented by dots while the electrons of the other
atom are shown by crosses.
Example (i) CH4 (ii) H2O
(iii) NH3 (iv) CO2
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Lewis dot structure
Showing covalent bonds of a molecule representing the valence shell electrons of its atoms only
by dots is called the Lewis dot diagram.
Example (i) CH4 (ii) H2O
(iii) NH3 (iv) CO2
Lewis structure
When a bond electron pair is represented by a short line (-) and a non – bonding lone pair by
dots, it is called the Lewis structure.
Example (i) CH4 (ii) H2O
(iii) NH3 (iv) CO2
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Exercise
Complete the chart
Molecule Lewis dot and cross Lewis dot diagram Lewis structure
diagram
Cl2
H2
H2O
NH3
CH4
O2
N2
CO2
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In all the molecules given above, the central atom as well as the peripheral atoms have acquired
the noble gas configuration. That means, except in hydrogen, a set of eight electrons is
completed in the valence shell of atoms after the formation of the bonds. Those are known as the
compounds in which the octet of electrons is complete. Nevertheless, there are exceptions too.
Example (i) AlCl3 & BCl3
AlCl3 BCl3
In the molecule, the valence shell of the aluminium atom contains six electrons. In the case of a
chlorine atom, the octet is complete.
(iii) PCl5
A phosphorus atom and five chlorine atoms
share five pairs of electrons to form the PCl5
molecule. Then there are10 electrons around the
central phosphorus atom. In each chlorine atom, the
octet is completed.
Q. Write down characteristics of Covalent bonds.
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Atomic Lattice
In some elements the atoms are organized as a lattice. Such lattices in which the atoms are
covalently bonded are known as atomic lattices.
Graphite
Graphite consists of layers of carbon atoms formed by the joining of one carbon atom with three
other carbon atoms by single bonds. These layers are superimposed on one other. The forces
holding these layers are weak. Thus one layer can easily slide over the other. Because of this
structure, graphite behaves as a lubricant.
Atomic Lattice of graphite
Diamond
Diamond is a three dimensional lattice in which every carbon atom forms four single bonds with
four other carbon atoms. Diamond is the hardest substance found in nature.
Atomic lattice of diamond
Polarity of Bonds
Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons of a chemical bond towards
itself. It takes different values for different atoms.
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In the distribution of electrons in the bond pair of this molecule is symmetrical. Therefore, the
hydrogen is a non – polar molecule. But when two atoms of different electronegativities are
joined by a covalent bond, the attraction imposed by the two atoms on the bond pair is different.
Ex.
When two atoms of unequal electronegativities are joined by a covalent bond, it gets polarized
due to asymmetric distribution of electrons. Such bonds are called polar covalent bonds.
Intermolecular Bonds
Intermolecular bonds are strong bonds that hold atoms together within a molecule.
Ex: H2 O
These intermolecular forces are not as strong as the covalent bonds between the oxygen atoms
and the hydrogen atoms in a water molecule. Yet, these intermolecular forces impart many
special properties to water.
Because of these intermolecular forces, water exists as a liquid at room temperature. In case
that there were no intermolecular forces among the water molecules, water is a gas at room
temperature. Some special properties possessed by water due to attractive forces among the
water molecule are as follows.
High boiling point
High specific heat capacity
Having a higher density than that of ice
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Properties of Ionic and Covalent Compounds
Activity
Examining the electrical conductivity of the solutions of ionic and covalent compounds
Requirement: Four beakers, two carbon rods, two bulbs, two batteries (Six dry cells),
conducting wires, a salt solution (common salt), sugar solution, copper sulphate solution,
distilled water
Method
Take four equal beakers and label them A, B, C, D.
Add salt solution to A, copper sulphate solution to B, sugar solution to C and
distilled water to D.
Dip two carbon rods in each solution, complete the circuit as shown in fig. 10.21 and see
whether the bulb lights. The carbon rods should be washed well before using in the other
solution.
Observation
Chemical Observation
i. NaCl(aq)
ii. Sugar solution
iii. CuSO4(aq)
iv. Distilled water
Conclusion
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