CH 106 - Lesson 2
Home Up Hybridization Covalent Bonding Sigma Bonds Types of Hybridization Double Bonds Pi Bonds Triple Bonds Comparing Hybrid Types Valence

 

Covalent Bonding

Let's take a moment now to elaborate on how atoms share electrons when they make a covalent bond.

Chemists have the idea that a covalent bond occurs when the electron orbitals of two different atoms overlap one another so that electrons will be in both orbitals and thus in both atoms.

Diagram of overlapping orbitals forming a bond. [62orb02.JPG]

Usually each of the overlapping orbitals starts with one electron so that they both "have" two electrons when the overlap is complete and the bond is formed. This is believed to be the mechanism by which the sharing of electrons between atoms occurs--orbitals overlap. The overlapping orbitals merge to form a bonding orbital. The overlapping orbitals can be atomic orbitals or hybrid orbitals or one of each.

 

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E-mail instructor: Sue Eggling

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