Question

List the three (3) types of chemical bonding and discuss the importance of each giving at least one example. How does chemical bonding affect your everyday life?

Answer 1

Three types of chemical bonds

1) Ionic bond

2) Covalent bond

3) Coordinate or dative bond

1) Ionic bond: An ionic bond is formed by the attraction of oppositely charged atoms or groups of atoms. When an atom (or group of atoms) gains or loses one or more electrons, it forms an ion. Ions have either a net positive or net negative charge. Positively charged ions are attracted to the negatively charged 'cathode' in an electric field and are called cations. Anions are negatively charged ions named as a result of their attraction to the positive 'anode' in an electric field.

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is the classic example of ionic bonding.

2) Covalent bond: A covalent chemical bond results from the sharing of electrons between two atoms with similar electronegativities A single covalent bond represent the sharing of two valence electrons (usually from two different atoms). The Lewis structure below represents the covalent bond between two hydrogen atoms in a H₂ molecule.

Atomic nitrogen (N₂) is an example of a triple covalent bond.

3) Coordinate or dative bond: A coordinate covalent bond is formed when one atom donates both of the electrons to form a single covalent bond. These electrons originate from the donor atom as an unshared pair. Both the ammonium ion and hydronium ion contain one coordinate covalent bond each. A lone pair on the oxygen atom in water contributes two electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with a hydrogen ion to form the hydronium ion. Similarly, a lone pair on nitrogen contributes 2 electrons to form the ammonium ion. All of the bonds in these ions are indistinguishable once formed.