Covalent
Bonds
Covalent bonds form when
electrons are shared
They form between nonmetals only
1) Why do atoms share electrons?
Recall, nonmetals have high electronegativities which means that they do NOT want to lose electrons. Thus, when nonmetals find other nonmetals, both atoms are equally as strong* and cannot "rip" electrons off the other atom. Due to this "tug," the nonmetals share electrons kind.
(Thus the electrons are shared between nonmetals just like the unlucky guy above)
By sharing electrons, these atoms obey the Octet Rule.
2) How many times can atoms share electrons?
Atoms can share 1 pair of electrons, 2 pairs of electrons, or 3 pairs of electrons.
3) What is a single bond?
A single bond results when atoms share 1 pair (hence two electrons because a pair represents two, right?) of electrons.
4) Okay, so what's a double and triple?
In addition to being the types of cheeseburgers that many of your little carnivores like, these are the other two types of covalent bonds.
In a double bond, two pairs of electrons (hence four electrons total) are shared
In a triple bond, three pairs of electrons (hence six electrons total) are shared
