Simple Molecules

• What type of bonding is primarily discussed in the study material?

  Ionic bonding
• How do covalent bonds form between non-metal atoms?

  By sharing pairs of electrons
• What do atoms achieve by forming covalent bonds?

  A full outer shell of electrons
• How many extra shared electrons does each covalent bond provide for each atom?

  One extra shared electron
• Why are covalent bonds considered strong?

  Due to strong electrostatic attraction between nuclei and shared electrons
• What do dot and cross diagrams represent?

  Covalent bonds
• What is the process of forming a covalent bond in hydrogen gas?

  • Each hydrogen atom has one electron.
  • They need one more electron to complete their outer shell.
  • They form a single covalent bond by sharing one pair of electrons.
• How does carbon dioxide achieve a stable structure?

  • Carbon needs four electrons to fill its outer shell.
  • Oxygen needs two electrons to fill its outer shell.
  • Two double covalent bonds are formed, sharing four electrons in total.
• How does water achieve a stable structure?

  • Oxygen needs two electrons to fill its outer shell.
  • It shares electrons with two hydrogen atoms.
  • Two single covalent bonds are formed.
• What are the typical melting and boiling points of simple molecular substances?

  They have low melting and boiling points
• Why do simple molecular substances have low melting and boiling points?

  Because of weak intermolecular forces
• What state are most simple molecular substances in at room temperature?

  Gases or liquids
• Why don't simple molecular substances conduct electricity?

  They don't have free electrons or ions
• What are ball and stick models used for in chemistry?

  • They show how atoms in covalent molecules are connected.
  • They help visualize the 3D structure of molecules.
  • They can be made with plastic kits or computer models.
• What is a limitation of ball and stick models in representing molecules?

  They can misrepresent the space between atoms
• What do the gaps in ball and stick models represent?

  Interactions of electron clouds