Explain the relationship between the type of bonding and the properties of the elements participating in the bond. UNIT 2 Compound Structure and Properties
- Electronegativity values for the representative elements increase going from left to right across a period and decrease going down a group. These trends can be understood qualitatively through the electronic structure of the atoms, the shell model, and Coulomb’s law.
- Valence electrons shared between atoms of similar electronegativity constitute a nonpolar covalent bond. For example, bonds between carbon and hydrogen are effectively nonpolar even though carbon is slightly more electronegative than hydrogen.
- Valence electrons shared between atoms of unequal electronegativity constitute a polar covalent bond.
- i. The atom with a higher electronegativity will develop a partial negative charge relative to the other atom in the bond.
- ii. In single bonds, greater differences in electronegativity lead to greater bond dipoles.
- iii. All polar bonds have some ionic character, and the difference between ionic and covalent bonding is not distinct but rather a continuum.
- The difference in electronegativity is not the only factor in determining if a bond should be designated as ionic or covalent. Generally, bonds between a metal and nonmetal are ionic, and bonds between two nonmetals are covalent. Examination of the properties of a compound is the best way to characterize the type of bonding.
- In a metallic solid, the valence electrons from the metal atoms are considered to be delocalized and not associated with any individual atom.