SIMPLE COVALENT COMPOUND PROPERTIES

Noadswood Science, 2012

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

To understand the properties of simple covalent compounds

Covalent Bonding – Recap

A covalent bond forms when two non-metal atoms share a pair of electrons: the electrons involved are in the highest occupied energy levels (outer shells) of the atoms

An atom that shares one or more of its electrons will complete its highest occupied energy level

Covalent bonds are strong – a lot of energy is needed to break them

Substances with covalent bonds often form molecules with low melting and boiling points, such as hydrogen and water

Covalent Bonding – Recap

HH

HH

Incomplete outer shells

Both atoms have a full outer shell

When non-metal atoms react together, they need to gain electrons to fill their outer shell and become stable

They can only do this if they share electrons with each other – they are covalently bonded

Example Compounds

Hydrogen atoms can each form one covalent

bond, while oxygen atoms can each form two

covalent bonds

Two pairs of electrons are shared in a water molecule (H2O)

Hydrogen atoms and chlorine atoms can each form one

covalent bond

One pair of electrons is shared in a hydrogen chloride molecule

(HCl)

Hydrogen atoms can each form one covalent bond, while and nitrogen

atoms can each form three covalent bonds

Three pairs of electrons are shared in an

ammonia molecule (NH3)

Covalent Compounds

Covalent bonds form between non-metal atoms

Each bond consists of a shared pair of electrons and is very strong – covalently bonded substances fall into two main types: -

Simple molecules

Giant covalent structures

Simple Molecules

These contain only a few atoms held together by strong covalent bonds

An example is carbon dioxide (CO2), the molecules of which contain one atom of carbon bonded with two atoms of oxygen

How would you draw out carbon dioxide?

Simple Molecules

Atoms that join together by covalent bonding can form different types of covalent structure

Oxygen, water and carbon dioxide are molecules – they have a simple structure because they only contain a few atoms

Draw out the above simple molecules…

OO COOH

O

H

Oxygen Water Carbon dioxide

Simple Molecules – Iodine

Most molecular substances are gas or liquid at room temperature

A few are solid and these are called molecular solids, e.g. iodine…

Iodine is a molecular solid at room temperature – two iodine atoms form a single covalent bond to become an iodine molecule

Millions of iodine molecules are held together by weak forces of attraction to create a 3D molecular lattice

Weak forces of attraction

Simple Properties

Simple molecular substances have the following properties: -

Low melting and boiling points – this is because the weak intermolecular forces break down easily

Non-conductive – substances with a simple molecular structure do not conduct electricity because they do not have any free electrons or an overall electric charge

Solids are usually soft and brittle, shattering when hit, and insoluble in water (but soluble in other solvents, e.g. petrol)

Simple molecular substances are gases, liquids or solids with low melting and boiling points

Intermolecular Forces

Hydrogen, ammonia, methane and water are also simple molecules with covalent bonds

All have very strong bonds between the atoms, but much weaker forces holding the molecules together – when one of these substances melts or boils, it is these weak 'intermolecular forces' that break, not the strong covalent bonds