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SingaporeChemistryQuick questions
Atomic Structure and Chemical Bonding
Quick questions on Covalent bonding explained: O-Level Chemistry
7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are covalent bonding as sharing electrons?Show answer
When two non-metal atoms bond, neither wants to lose electrons, so instead they share pairs of electrons. Each shared pair is a covalent bond. By sharing, both atoms count the shared electrons as part of their outer shell and so reach a stable full outer shell (a noble-gas configuration).
What are dot-and-cross diagrams for simple molecules?Show answer
Show only the outer-shell electrons, one atom's as dots and the other's as crosses, with the shared pairs in the overlap between the atoms:
What are simple molecular substances?Show answer
In a simple molecular substance the atoms within each molecule are joined by strong covalent bonds, but the separate molecules are attracted to one another by only weak intermolecular forces. This gives the typical properties:
What are giant covalent structures?Show answer
Some covalent substances form a giant covalent structure: a huge network of atoms all joined by strong covalent bonds. Diamond and graphite (both forms of carbon) and silicon dioxide are examples:
What is q1?Show answer
State what a covalent bond is. [1 mark]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain why methane has a low boiling point. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain why diamond is hard but graphite is soft, even though both are made only of carbon. [3 marks]
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