Introduction
1. It is well known fact that except
noble gases, no element exists as independent atoms under ordinary conditions.
2. Most of these elements exist as
molecules which are cluster or aggregates. How do atoms combine to form molecules
and why do atoms form bonds? Such doubts will be discussed in this chapter.
3. A molecule will only be formed if it
is more stable and has a lower energy, than the individual atoms.
Chemical bond
Chemical bond is an attractive force which keeps two atoms or
ions together in a molecule. A molecule is formed if it is more stable and has
lower energy than the individual atoms. We all know that except for noble
gases, the atoms of no other element exist independently. A molecule may have
the same or different atoms. Atoms combine with other atoms to gain stable
electronic configuration.
Atoms attain stable electronic configuration
in three different ways
1.
By losing electrons.
2.
Gaining electrons
3.
By sharing electrons.
The attractive forces which hold various constituents (atoms,
ions etc) together in different chemical species are called chemical bonds.
Types of chemical bonds
Electrovalent
bond: it is formed due to transfer electrons from one atom to another atom.
Covalent
bond: It is formed by the sharing of electrons between the two atoms.
Tendency to acquire noble gas configuration
(a) The first explanation about the cause of combination
between atoms is based upon the understanding of electronic configuration of
noble gases.
(b) It has been observed that atoms of noble gases have
little or no tendency to combine with each other or with atoms of other
elements.
(c) This means that these atoms must be having stable
electronic configurations.
Lewis octet rule
(a) Except helium, whose electronic configuration is 1s2,
the s and p subshells of the highest energy level contain a total of eight
electrons.
(b) It is therefore concluded that ns2np6
configuration in the outer energy level constitutes a structure of maximum
stability and therefore, of minimum energy.
(c) The tendency of atoms to achieve eight electrons in their
outermost shell is known as Lewis octet rule.
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