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Covalent Bonds

Covalent Bonds

Covalent Bonds

Covalent Bonds

Overview
When two atoms share electrons to complete their valence shells, they create a covalent bond. An atom's electronegativity—the force with which shared electrons are pulled towards an atom—determines how the electrons are shared. Molecules formed with covalent bonds can be either polar or nonpolar. Atoms with similar electronegativities form nonpolar covalent bonds; the electrons are shared equally. Atoms with different electronegativities share electrons unequally,...

Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures

Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures

Compared to ionic bonds, which results from the transfer of electrons between metallic and nonmetallic atoms, covalent bonds result from the mutual attraction of atoms for a “shared” pair of electrons.

Polar Covalent Bonds

Polar Covalent Bonds

Covalent bonds are formed between two atoms when both have similar tendencies to attract electrons to themselves (i.e., when both atoms have identical or fairly similar ionization energies and electron affinities). Nonmetal atoms frequently form covalent bonds with other nonmetal atoms. For example, the hydrogen molecule, H2, contains a covalent bond between its two hydrogen atoms. When two separate hydrogen atoms with a particular potential energy approach each other, their valence orbitals...

MO Theory and Covalent Bonding

MO Theory and Covalent Bonding

The molecular orbital theory describes the distribution of electrons in molecules in a manner similar to the distribution of electrons in atomic orbitals. The region of space in which a valence electron in a molecule is likely to be found is called a molecular orbital. Mathematically, the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) generates molecular orbitals. Combinations of in-phase atomic orbital wave functions result in regions with a high probability of electron density, while...

Network Covalent Solids

Network Covalent Solids

Network covalent solids contain a three-dimensional network of covalently bonded atoms as found in the crystal structures of nonmetals like diamond, graphite, silicon, and some covalent compounds, such as silicon dioxide (sand) and silicon carbide (carborundum, the abrasive on sandpaper). Many minerals have networks of covalent bonds.
To break or to melt a covalent network solid, covalent bonds must be broken. Because covalent bonds are relatively strong, covalent network solids are typically...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly

Published on: February 6, 2020

Dynamic Covalent Bonds in Polymeric Materials.

Progyateg Chakma¹, Dominik Konkolewicz¹

¹Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, 651 East High Street, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)

|January 10, 2019

Summary

Dynamic covalent bonds (DCBs) enhance polymers with self-healing and shape-memory properties. This review covers DCBs, their applications in advanced materials, and future prospects.

Keywords:

covalent bonds crosslinking polymers

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Last Updated: Jan 31, 2026

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Published on: May 20, 2019

Area of Science:

Polymer Chemistry
Materials Science

Background:

Dynamic covalent bonds (DCBs) are covalent bonds capable of reversible exchange between molecules.
Recent research focuses on incorporating DCBs into polymeric materials.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize commonly used DCBs formed via simple reactions.
To highlight advanced polymeric materials utilizing DCBs.
To discuss challenges and future directions in DCB materials.

Main Methods:

Review of literature on dynamic covalent chemistry in polymers.
Analysis of DCBs formed by "click" reactions.
Discussion of material properties conferred by DCBs.

Main Results:

DCBs impart self-healing, shape-memory, and stress-relaxation capabilities to polymers.
Simple "click" reactions efficiently form powerful DCBs.
DCB-containing polymers offer tunable macromolecular architectures.

Conclusions:

DCBs are crucial for developing advanced functional polymeric materials.
Continued research into DCB chemistry will unlock new material possibilities.
Overcoming current challenges will accelerate the development of DCB-based technologies.