What is a Covalent bond ? / how a covalent bond is formed ?

This is the bond formed by mutual sharing of electrons between two atoms.

The sharing between two atoms allow each atom to have a noble gas like a configuration.

Single Double,triple ,covalent bonds.

Single Covalent bond

This kind of bond is formed by sharing of only one pair of electrons between the two atoms like hydrogen molecule.

Hydrogen molecule showing single covalent bond.

Double Covalent bond

this kind of bond is formed by sharing of two pairs of electrons between two atoms for example oxygen molecule.

Triple Bond.

This kind of bond is found by sharing of three pairs of electrons between two atoms for example nitrogen molecule N2. and this bond is one of the strongest bond, that’s why the nitrogen is sometimes used for creating inert conditions. the bond dissociation enthalpy of nitrogen molecule is 945 Kj/mol .

triple bond in nitrogen

Characteristics of covalent compounds

  1. Normally the covalent compounds are liquids or gases, or soft solids and a few are exceptions like diamond.
  2. Their boiling and melting points are low as they have weak inter-particulate forces of attraction.
  3. As the cold and compounds are nonpolar so they are hardly miscible in water.
  4. As they do not have any kind of polarity, They seldom conduct the electricity however graphite is an exception.
  5. These bonds are directional and rigid does they provide specific shape to the molecule.
  6. The reactions of these kind of compounds are complex and slow.
Water Molecule

Published by Ankush Sharma

I am M.Sc (chemistry ) from Punjabi University Patiala. I am a science teacher with expertise in chemistry, with 8 years of experience in teaching. Writing and blogging is my hobby, I write whenever I am free. I am constantly working on creating a new and easy way of learning the tough things in an effective way. I am constantly working to make authentic and reliable information to be shared with my students and widen the horizons of knowledge.

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