Covalent bonding

• giant covalent structures have strong covalent bonds within the lattice so they are solids
• Atoms with full outer shells have no tendency to gain or lose electrons, while those with less than eight electrons tend to gain or lose them.
• Covalent bonds are formed when non-metal atoms react together.
• As these atoms come near their outer electrons are attracted to the nucleus of both atoms and become shared by the atoms.
• The shared electrons count towards shells of both atoms and therfore help fill up incomplete electron shells.
• Covalent Bonding


  A type of chemical bonding where atoms share one or more pairs of electrons to form a bond.
• Covalent Bond Examples


  Examples of covalent bonds include: H2O, CH4, O2, and CO2, where atoms share their electrons to form a bond.
• Inner Electrons


  Not involved in chemical bonding and reactions; located in inner energy levels.
• Outer Electrons


  Involved in chemical bonding and reactions; located in the outermost energy level.