KEY POINTS ABOUT COVALENT BONDING:
- Sharing electrons with other atoms
- Only share electrons in their outer energy shell
- This way both atoms have a full outer shell
- A covalent bond is a shared pair of electrons
- Substances with covalent bonds (electron sharing) can either be simple molecules or giant structures
Simple Molecules:
- Very strong covalent bonds
- Weak forces of attraction between these molecules
- Low melting and boiling points - the intermolecular forces are broken NOT the much stronger covalent bonds
- Don't conduct electricity - there are no ions, so no elctrical charge.
Giant Structures
- No charged ions
- All the atoms are bonded to each other by stong covalent bonds
- Very high, melting and boiling points
- Don't conduct electricty - not even when molten (except graphite)
- Main examples are diamond, silicon dioxide and graphite
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